I Need An Intervention

Well, here we go.  I need someone to either reset me (cause I've tilted).  I've done it again. Click, click, click and start.  Even though I have PLENTY to stitch and have enough starts to last me until the next millenium or I live through all of my cat's 9 lives whichever comes first. 

Maybe I need to go to Stitcher's confession...Bless me Father, for I have bought and started.....only to end with this penance:  Thread 3 needles with silk and start no more. 

What have I bought?  What have I started?
I bought all the new Prairie Schoolers, pre-ordered the JCS Halloween issue and the Christmas ornament issue, the new Kelmscott blackbird needleminder and the little bird feeder and a beeskep. 
http://www.silentstitches.com/In%20The%20Garden.htm

And this:

and I started (told you I would!!):

Well, I certainly will be stocked up when I can't buy anything for awhile.  I am not sure if I am hoarding (oh, what an ugh-ly word) cause in a month (yes, A MONTH) my David will be retired and for the first time in 31 years, I, yes, ME, will be making MORE money than he will be?   Am I just binging because just like  right before going on a diet, you eat everything that you love because you might not get anymore?

I don't know the reason but this is it.  No more.  I've got to close my eyes, pretend that you can't enable me, stay away from the OLNs, just say NO.

Yeah...that's the ticket.

Until next time.  LOL!

Thanks for letting me rant.  I  love you guys.

Actually, I think that I am buying stuff because I am getting anxious about all the changes that will be happening in a month.  I am such a control freak and unfortunately, I can't control this. 

Some women buy shoes, others buy jewelry.  I buy needlework.

So that's my story.  I'm sticking with it.

Oh My!! I Have The Vapors!!!! (Swoon!)

I know, I know, I've promised you stitchy pics.  Trust me they are coming.

What I am swooning over are the new Prairie Schoolers!   Oh me, oh my..what a delight (and of course, my clicky finger went click, click, click!  Bad Joanie, bad, bad!!!!)  If you want to see them up close in personal got to Mary Kathryn's E-Handcraft Stitching webstore, she's got a great slide show running.  You can see all the delicious details.  And if you buy the charts, she'll throw in the Santa card and the mini-card (while supplies last) for free!

Of course, this is my very, very favorite one.  I know that I will be putting everything else on hold to stitch it.

Don't you just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them!!!

And just when you thought you hyperventilated enough, just take a look at this from Liberty Hill Primitives!!!!
Salem House Stitching box! 

Ok....now, I need to lie down and rest.  

Oh Those Blackbird Design Gals Are Going To Kill Me (Or My Checkbook)

Have you been to the Blackbird Designs website???

These ladies are going to kill me or my checkbook.  The new designs are WONDERFUL!!!!  I can't wait until they are released.  Good thing I get paid this week.  I know where a portion of my check is going. 

Have a great time drooling...I needed a mop to swab up.

A Really Great Give-away

Paulette from Plum Street Samplers has the most wicked give-away!!!  Go check out her blog and enter to win!

Paulette is a sweetie, a wonderful designer and a great Mom and Wife.  I love, love, love her designs!

Post with stitchy pics tomorrow!!!! Stay tuned!

M-O-M!!!!! Blogger Is Being Stupid

Blogger has decided not to publish comments left on my blog.  I am moderating them because of the lovely links to Japanese porn (they keep trying to link to the blog, why don't they just give up already) so if you've left me a comment and it doesn't appear, it's all Bloggers fault.  I moderated all the comments but Mr. Blogger is refusing to publish them. 

This morning, I had 3 comments and I tried to post them but *POOF* they disappeared.  At lunch there were 2 other comments which I posted but the counter doesn't register them even though they are there.

So, if you commented and don't see your post, I apologize for the rudeness of Mr. Blogger.  And if you want, please try again.  Only if you want to...but I'd like you to cause I love hearing from you.

And there is that burning question for the giveaway that I'd like some feedback...Patterns and accoutrements or something made by little ol'me?  (Oh and there are now 41! followers to this little piece of my world.  HI EVERYONE!!!  Thanks for following me!  Glad you are here)!

Well, lunch is over so it's back to work...See ya!

It Was A Hay-venture This Holiday Weekend

Here in good ol' Upstate NY, it's been hot, 90+ degrees hot.  Hotter than it's been in many summers and it's going to remain hot until the end of the week when we will cool down to the mere mid-80's. Woo hoo.

So during this holiday weekend, most of my plans were put on hold because we put in hay - 350 bales. The hot weather is just fine for hay. Hay loves hot weather. Farmers who are mowing, raking and baling, love hot weather. The DH who LOVES to hay is ok with hot weather. However, the person who is unloading the truck on to the hay elevator (that'd be me) doesn't love hot weather mixed with putting in hay. You could say she is allergic to hot weather and hay when they are mixed together.  But like a good country girl, I put on my jeans, leather gloves and hat and got down to business. My job involved straddling the truck's tailgate and the sawhorse the hay elevator was resting on, slinging bales (average weight 50 pound and over half my size in length) onto the elevator.  Yes, I fell off the sawhorse once because it gets slippery with hay chaff and took down the elevator. Fortunately, no one was hurt in the making of this hay-venture.  The only injury was a bruised ego and very sore muscles the next day (I have muscles that I didn't know I had and they are very unhappy!).

So, to amuse you, here are some pics of our Hay-venture:

36 bales make a truckload:

Setting up the elevator and getting ready to unload:

There they go, up to the hayloft:

The King of Hay:

Almost done! See the technique of loading the elevator (the King of Hay didn't fall off the sawhorse):

Sweeping up after the last load:

Hay-venture 2010 is history!!

Hay!  YUM!!!

And just so you don't think this was an all work weekend, we grilled, gardened, hung out and went to the fireworks.  I stitched on Alphabets this weekend but didn't get my July 4th pieces finished (always next year, I guess).  And the King of Hay went and helped his buddy put in hay at his place, another 800 bales.

I hope all of you had a terrific July 4th and a great weekend!

PS.  I've not forgotten the give-away.  I am trying to decide if I want to make something or give away some charts and accoutraments to go with them...what do you think you'd like me to give away??  Let me know!

Wow! 36 Followers...

Oh my gosh, there are 36 of you out there in blogville who are actually interested in what I have to say! Wowser! Who knew!

Well, that calls for a celebration....I think I will do a give away to some lucky someone. I will decide tomorrow and post what I am going to give away, so stay tuned!  It'll be good.

I have to let you all know that your comments on my recent acquisition made me giggle and laugh out loud.  Thanks so much for your posts and comments.  (Vonna, you get a pass for your Oh Sh*T comment and Laura with your Obadoobadoo!  was just too funny!)

And, I have to tell you, my clicky finger was really, really bad. I only posted SOME of my recent acquisitions. I'll post more soon too, once I gather up the rest. I bought Carriagehouse Samplings, Homespun Elegance and more...fortunately, the DH hasn't said a word. He's really great.
Speaking of Dave, today is our 31st anniversary. I am so blessed to be loved by such a wonderful man.

Here he is with his two favorite things, his Harley and Daisy.  The motorcycle is a new (to him) toy to celebrate his upcoming retirement.  I can't fault him for buying it (it was a great deal) and he deserves something for his 31 years at IBM.

And I've stitched so I've got to get some pictures of my Wips on this site.  I've worked on Broom Hilda (so cute and tiny!), Alphabets by Merrily Beams in a luscious AVAS cherry red silk, one of the baskets from Blackbird Designs, It's Berry Time, in a berry red Belle Soie and a number of July 4th stitcheries.  Oh! and a frame that I painted for a limited edition (2005) kit from LHN called Americana.  Wait till you see it! 

My weekend will start early, I am taking Friday off and we have Monday to celebrate Independance Day.  I am going to work in my garden, BBQ and stain windows.  And relax.

Thanks again for visiting!  It makes me so happy when you stop by!

Stash, stash, stash...and MORE stash!

Well kids, I gotta thank you for your comments about my "retreating" tendencies. I think I am in VERY good company. Now, I don't feel so alone or so "weird"! because I am such a loner. And an introvert. And a wallflower.

I've bought stash. A lot of it. Hee-hee! Here's some of what I've bought in the recent weeks....
Blackbird Designs:

With My Needle & Thread:
Broom Hilda, just so adorable!

Boo To You:  I love Halloween!

Lizzie Kate!

ABC Christmas

ABC Halloween (Did I say I LOVE Halloween?)

Little House Needleworks:

He's A Flake (LOVE SNOWMEN TOO!)

Simple Joys:  Simply too cute!

I am happy.

I've been remiss in posting this

Awhile back (in May, I believe) I received this beautiful pillow from Conny for Round 4 of the Blackbird Designs Exchange group.   I meant to post it, I really did.  But then I went MIA for awhile and climbed back into my hunker-down-and-just-deal-with-it mode. 

I know you all must think I am daft for it but when I get overwhelmed I usually retreat until I figure out a way to deal with whatever it is that's bothering me.  (Please tell me I'm not the only one who does this...)  I know there are those lucky folks that have BFFs and sisters who act as a safety net but, alas, I do not have the luxury of either. Now, I'm really putting myself out here by saying I'm really introverted and have been hurt many, many times by those I considered friends.  And the nail in the coffin was when I lost my BF because she told me I was a toxin to her life.  So, you see my reluctance to rely on anyone but my Dave and myself when I tie myself up in knots over something...

OK, back to the BBD exchange....

Conny does exquisite work.  I was so impressed by it and she used a hand painted fabric to create it.  I believe she wrote in her note that it was Tentakulum Painter's thread in Matisse.

So Conny, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and ask for a pass for my rudeness because I didn't post this beautiful exchange piece as I should have...

Meeting Ms. Daisy

As I promised, here is Daisy.  Isn't she a beauty? 

She's beginning to settle in.

It's nice having a dog again.

Even if the cats don't agree just yet.  :-)

Hi All

 First of all, I want to thank the 31 followers who've stuck with my poor excuse of blogging.  I guess I needed a break for a little while.

Life is changing again (we are preparing for the DH's retirement in August and subsequent loss of 60% of our salary...a hugh amount!)  We've met with a financial planner to decide what to do with his 401K.  We've budgeted out what we think we will have as income.  I've been hoarding paper products, pet food, laundry and cleaning supplies for the last 6 months in order to cut our grocery bill.  And the numbers aren't great but we will survive. Let's just say I'm glad I've got a monumental stash to stitch from because there's not going to be many purchases until we figure out what our finances are going to be for the first year.  I will be making a big wish list.  I think the reality of this change just hit me and I put aside all the fun things just to stew for a bit.

 I've been stitching but I haven't taken one picture of what I've done.  Mainly, I've worked on Americana and patriotic small things cause I decided I needed to have a basket of those hanging around.  I stitched 7 things, Lizzie Kates, Littlehouse Needleworks, a very cute piece from the Sampler Girl.  They are all on one ginormous piece of linen and I think I have to get myself in gear to make some pillows or pinkeeps soon.  Otherwise they will be hanging around waiting to be finished for next Summer.

Today is my birthday.  It's a quiet one.  I decided not to take the day off (as I usually do) so I am working.  I didn't ask for anything because we finished up the house and that's a gift in itself.  The 2nd Lietenant and the lovely Jenna sent me a pretty card and greetings on Facebook.  A bunch of friends also sent me well wishes on FB too.  It's a nice day.  I am blessed.

Also, we finally got a German Shepherd!  We found her on Craigslist.  The rescue groups just grew tiresome and it didn't look like we would get a dog until the end of summer because even though we were "approved", the foster home had to see how we interacted with the potential adoptee and they got to decide if we were "worthy" to adopt him/her.  So, after spending 3 months jumping through hoops with 3 rescue groups, Dave just got fed up and went on Craigslist.  He contacted the owner of Daisy on Tuesday and yesterday, he picked her up and brought her home.  Daisy's a beauty, a bit on the thin side, and is very sweet.  She's intelligent, curious and is totally in love with Dave. 

However, the cats aren't thrilled.  Frankie is on the defensive.  He puffs himself up to 2x his normal size and HISSES. He lays in wait to attack her and when he does, she looks very confused and hurt. The other cats are staying upstairs.  Livy is hiding under the bed and Ella slinks downstairs when she's hungry or needs the litter box.  It will take a few days for them to sort everything out and they'll be friends. 

So, I'm not going to promise pics of my stitching but I will post pictures of Daisy.

Thanks for hanging in there with me...I really appreciate you all!

Another Drive By Post - and HOUSE NEWS!!!!!

The dog saga continues...and we are dog-less. I am beginning to think that there is a list somewhere with our name on it that says not to let us have a dog. This is the most frustrating experience that we've ever gone through with the exception of the house saga (which I am not going to regurgitate).

The rescue group had a meet and greet on Saturday in Rochester which is 3 hours away from us. The DH contacted the families who are fostering the dogs that we are interested to ask a few questions. The one family never got back to us. Anyway, he asked the other family what their procedure was to take the dog home if we liked him and we all got along because it's a haul (6 hours in the car round-trip) and we'd like to close out this chapter. The foster family said that if we liked the dog and it appeared that we got along, they wanted us to GO HOME AND THINK ABOUT IT FOR ANOTHER COUPLE OF WEEKS THEN COME BACK AGAIN. They were not willing to let us take the dog home with us. So we didn't make the trip.

In the meantime, the DH found a private individual about an hour & 1/2 away from us that had a litter of older puppies that she was willing to sell.  Actually, she was willing to give away the male dogs that  are about a year old.  When Dave made the initial call to her, it took her 2 weeks to get back to us.  Then we made arrangements to drive up today but the lady asked that we call her before we made the trip.  So we did, TWICE and she never returned the calls.  So we stayed home.
And we are dog-less for at least another 2 weeks cause DH is going out of town.

On a happier note, our house is just about finished!!!! Can you believe it?  FOUR years later we are finally getting closure.  We found a Christian contractor who gave us a good price to finish up the work and he's been working daily for the last 3 weeks.  Now we are 99% done!
The chimney side:

The sunroom side:

The front of the house.  We are having a field stone facade placed around the door and dining room window.

The back of the house.

You have to know that I am SO happy that I just want to do a happy dance all day!  This is the happiest I've been since we started this adventure with the exception of Jenna and Mike's wedding.

Anyway, it was a great weekend, we went for a walk, I made scrumptious cookies, we grilled chicken and just hung out and marveled at our house.  There's a lot more to do (when is a house EVER finished) but at least I know that we aren't compromising the structural integrity of our home.  The rest will come in due time.  I can be patient.  That's one of the things I learned from this experience.  Patience.

Stitching, I've worked on a few wips, nothing to write home about.  And surprisingly enough, I haven't even opened up the box with my new sewing machine inside.  Just busy with yard work and trying to keep afloat at work.

So thanks for hanging in there with me on this long post.  I want to thank you for your prayers, friendship, emails and good thoughts through the house ordeal.  I so appreciate each and every one of you.  It's so amazing to me how we are all connected.  And I'm so blessed because of it!
Have a great week and I will post stitchy pics soon!

A Quick Post

It's cold, cold, cold here in Upstate NY. We had spring and summer a few weeks ago and now we are back into late October, early November weather. One of the managers at work said that we are to have the same summer we had last year. Dreary, cold and wet. Yuck.  Too grey to take pictures of my stitching.  I tried but the pics just are too dark. So once again, no stitchy pics.

I am very busy at work. Last week, we "entertained" Customers for 13 hours a day all week. This week, we are "entertaining" government auditors for 12 hour days until Friday. I am POOPED!

I've been stitching, it's been my sanity for the last few weeks. I finished up my Blackbird Designs exchange piece and now on to the finishing. I also worked on Alphabets and I am struggling with the buttonhole flowers on Lucy Minton. Lucy would have been done weeks ago but I can't seem to get a handle on counting when stitching the buttonholes. My flowers look mishapen and all alien like. I thought hard about doing something different with them but the buttonholes add so much charm to the piece. And, I am completely not going to let them get the best of me. LOL!

And, my clicky finger has gotten me in deep doo-doo. I've bought up a lot of Carriagehouse Samplings and kitted up a Quaker sampler, another Lucy.   Meet Lucy Haworth.

There is a SAL going on at Ellen Chester's With My Needle and Pen group.  I saw the sampler and fell in love.  I couldn't resist her but honestly, even though I kitted her up, I won't start her until later this year or even next year.  She's in the want to stitch pile.

And I really got in trouble cause I bought a sewing machine. A Janome 7330.

I've been looking for a sewing machine for a while and this will fit the bill quite nicely.  I shouldn't have spent the money but hey, you only live once, right?  It's got a little more that I wanted but the price wasn't bad and I did want some of the options that this machine offered. 

On another note, the 2nd Lietenant and the lovely Jenna are now at Goodfellow AFB in Texas for the next 9 months.  They got there on Sunday.  Today, they found an apartment.  Hopefully, the Air Force will get their stuff out of storage soon so they can sleep in their own bed and eat off their own dishes. I know they both are tired of temp housing. 

And we are waiting to hear if we can adopt a dog.  We are trying to get a rescue German Shepherd.  You would think we were adopting a child.  We had to fill out an adoption application, go through a phone interview, give them 3 references plus our vet (and they called ALL of them) and now we are waiting for them to come "inspect" our home to see if it and we are suitable to own a dog.  It's been time consuming and somewhat frustrating.   One rescue group turned us down because we have 3 house cats and they felt we couldn't handle a dog and the cats at the same time.  They felt that this situation required a professional dog trainer. We aren't "professionals" so we were denied an animal that needed a home.  We've had dogs and cats who lived in the same house with us for our entire 31 year marriage and the DH has had dogs all his life.  The animals work it out (and yes, we are vigillant so no one gets hurt) and they co-habitate quite nicely.  So cross your fingers that we "pass".  Otherwise, we may end up at the local SPCA.

Well, that's all the news in my little corner of the world.  Thanks for hanging in there with me, kids. 

Moderating comments

I am moderating comments.  Many links to porn sites.  SHEESH!!  This is a family blog.  Sorry for the inconvenience to those who have comments that don't link to smut.

Have you seen this?

Oh geez, when are they going to stop?  I love, love, love Blackbird Designs and my goodness, they've done it again!

Now, I can't wait to stitch this or at least add it to my bulging stash!

On other notes, our house is finally getting finished! The contractor has put in all our windows and we are waiting for siding to be delivered.  I will have a finished house by the middle of June!

Been stitiching too, my blackbird designs exchange, Alphabets by Merrily Beams (I snitched this pic from Littlebits blog) and Connie and I are going to begin our SAL again.  I am so looking forward to this SAL. 

Work is very busy right now so I apologize to those who visit.  I do love that you stop by and I especially love it when you leave me a sweet word or two.

Thanks for stopping!

A Sunshine Award!!!

Lookie!! TWO posts in ONE day!  Can you stand it?!!

I got this great award from Julie at Julie's Creations a week or so ago.  I've been meaning to post it but life gets in the way.  So Julie, THANKS A BUNCH!

It came at a good time too...I really needed a lift and it did make my day.

I know I try to keep the blog to stitching related things and some family stuff and I really don't want to bore you with personal things.  But I will share with you what was going on the day that Jule's awarded me this lovely bit of Sunshine.

1. Crazy person at work who, whenever I have to interact with the person, makes me want to slit my wrists.

2.  Extra bill that we didn't plan on (damn New York State taxes).  Sucked a bunch of cash out of the meager savings.

3. BIG stress about the DH's job or lack of one come September.  NO teaching jobs out there.  It's gonna be tight, folks, and I'm worried about how we are going to get through.

4. A not so good doctor's report.  (High cholesterol and pre-diabeties on top of the hypertension I've had for the last 10 years)

So. When Julie's little award popped into my reader, I got all smiley!  And I realized that in spite of the day gone wrong,  life's pretty dang good.

SO...I know that the rules say to pass this on but I'm going to nominate everyone who comes by to visit.  Thanks Julie and thanks to all of you, who be-friended me and my little corner of the world.  :-)

Saturday - Pictures and Everything!

HI everyone!
First of all, I want to wish everyone a blessed Easter! How wonderful is our God!
Alleluia! HE IS RISEN!!!

I have pictures! See patience IS a virtue!
I finished Blackbird Designs, Summer Basket, a few weeks ago.  I stretched it and now I am saving pennies to frame it.  I'll probably go to Michaels and with my trusty coupon, I'll  let them mount it.

 

I stitched my Mom's initials (NK) in the sampler because the sampler just reminded me of her.

The entire sampler:

The alphabet:

I stitched it with the recommended GAST on Weeks Dye Works linen.  The jury is still out about the linen.  I found that it was very soft and very stretchy.  Maybe it was my cut. 

Here's a close up of City Stitcher's, Lucy Minton and the whole sampler.  I'm getting closer to finishing Lucy, only the algerian-eye alphabet band and the button hole flowers to go!

Lucy's stitched on 32ct Flax linen with the recommended DMC.

Lately, I've been drawn to primitive patterns and Schoolgirl samplers. These samplers were the type of stitching that drew me to cross stitch initially. I've dabbled in many styles of samplers but I seem to return to this style.  And another return to my roots is that I am enjoying being a "One at a Time" stitcher.  I've vaguely felt uneasy stitching on more than one project.  I couldn't put my finger on why though.  Then I realized that I get anxious because I have so many Wips (like 30) so I made a decision to concentrate on one of those (Summer Basket) and then if I wanted, I could start a smaller project (Lucy).  So far, it's working and I'm enjoying my stitching so much more!  My current project is Lucy and when she's done, I'll return to Hand To Work's, This is the Day.  I can't work on it for a long time, I get bored with the solid stitching.

I've been debating on what I am going to stitch next.  I am not in the mood for another hugh project.  I want to stitch another sampler.  I've been bad with ordering patterns, I ordered a slew of Goode Huswife and kitted up the samplers in BBD's new book.  Then I go blog hopping and see the cute little pillows and tags and pinkeeps and I want to stitch a gazillion of them cause they are so sweet scattered about.  But before I chose a brandy-new project, I'll rummage through the Basket of Incomplete Projects.

I was messing around with the camera (the kids got me a new one for Christmas).  I'm not familiar with it but I have to say I love it.  It's 12 megapixels and I'm finding that the quality is quite good for a little point and shoot!

Obligatory cute kitty pics:  :-)

Frankie

Olivia

So in closing,  I wish all of you a blessed and joyous Easter!  I hope that you will be spending it with family and friends.  The DH and I are by ourselves (we'd better get used to it) and I'm planning on a nice dinner with pinapple upside down cake for desert.

Happy Easter!!!!  Happy Spring!

Drive By Posting - PLEASE take this survey

Just a quick post, I know, I know I owe you a ton of news.  Life is busy and I am slowly adjusting to life without my 2nd Lieutenant & the lovely Jenna being 3 hours away.  Alabama and Texas aren't exactly day trips and I know I won't see them until Fall or much later.  I really got depressed and I'm finally coming up out of that funk.

Anyway, the reason for this quick post:
Please take this survey:  The 2010 NeedleArts Survey,  

The needlearts community needs your advice and opinions, whether you are a beginner or an expert! This survey is only conducted every few years. Your input is very important and will be included in a published national report. Your answers are ano...nymous. No one will use your survey responses to market to you. In return for your participation, you will receive valuable benefits:
(1) Gain a chance to win 1 of 5 $100 needlearts GIFT CERTIFICATES.
(2) Ensure stores and suppliers provide what you want. (3) Explore your needlearts interests. Your valuable input will help the needlearts community, too:
(1) Advocate for more programs to support the needlearts, such as Helping Hands Needlearts Mentoring, Stitch N’ Pitch, and Stitching for Literacy.
(2) Help independent retailers and family-owned suppliers succeed by giving them the customer feedback they need.

It's important because our passion is dying and we need to let the needlearts community know what we want and how to keep our beloved past time alive.  Please take the survey - a few minutes is all it takes~
Thanks!

I am here - REALLY!!!

First of all, thank you very much for hanging with me.   I wanted to be a better blogger and post more often but life surely had other plans for that!

This weekend, the 2nd Lietenant and the lovely Jenna will begin their Air Force journey.  Their first stop is Montgomery Alabama, where Mike will attend ASBC (officer's training) for 7 weeks.  Then it's off to San Angelo Texas, for 7 months for Intellilgence School.  Please, if you would, keep them in your prayers.  It's a transistion for them, leaving home pretty much permanently.  It's going to be a big adjustment.

I did start Lucy Minton.  I crumpled.  It's a fast stitch and I'm enjoying it a lot.  It's a different style of sampler than I normally stitch.  I do love it.  Simple and primitive.  It'll look nice in the family room.

And, I am stalking the mail person for stash from Nashville.  I am breathlessly waiting for my Goode Huswife book and the Blackbird Designs.  I also won an older Sheepish Designs pattern, the Hedgehog Sampler.  Oh and I bought soap too...Goodies are coming!

Well, I just wanted to touch base with you all.  I am glad you stop by even though my posts are sorely lacking in pictures.  I'll remedy that soon.

Are you ready?

Are you ready for this?

I know I am!  We got clobbered earlier this week with a nor'easter that dumped 16.5 inches of snow on top of 10 inches that was already on the ground.  Oh, how I want warmer weather. 

Anyway, I've been stitching, I am almost finished with this:

I only have 4 stars on the right side to stitch and the letters G, R & W to go.  I ran out of Clover thread.  Bummer.

Next up, I am planning on stitching this:

I am so looking forward to my purchases from Market too!  I ordered the new Blackbird Designs book, Honeysuckle Manor and Bird in Hand.  I also bought the new Goode Huswife book and the new Prairie Schoolers.   Just because I needed a mid-winter pick-me-up.

I am focusing on my wips too.  Summer Basket was one.  I am proud of myself because I've resisted a new start, even though, this sampler from the City Stitcher is calling my name loudly!

I think it's the house that won me over.

So that's all that's going on in my little stitchy world. 

What's new with you?