Wow, another post!!! WooHoo!

Just a drive by post.  There were a few comments from my last post that I want to reply to and I do want to say thank you for your positive words about my SLUMP.  I am happy to say that I did finish the LHN ornament (hopefully to be ornamentified this weekend) and I put needle to fabric last night.  I worked on Lizzie*Kate's Snowman 2010 and I have to tell you that it felt really, really good to stitch!   I am debating on if I'm going to stitch the entire piece or just the snowman and the band of snowflakes beneath him and ornamentify him too.  What do you think?

Now to answer the questions....
Well, Jennifer asked about the piece hanging above the Lizzie*Kate Halloween cube.  That piece is from Blackbird Design's boo, Trix or Treats.  I stitched it on 36 count linen and I wish that I would have stitched with 2 threads instead of one because the coverage on the pumpkin looks rather sparse in my humble opinion.  My DSIL wants that piece desperately so I may just send it to her and stitch it again.

And Sharon asked if I display my Halloween pieces in one place or all over the house.  Well, I usually display them mainly in 3 rooms.  In my kitchen, I usually put them on the oak shelf.  In my sunroom, usually I try to put together some sort of vignette on the console table behind the sofa.  In my family room, I put things  on the mantle or the fireplace hearth.  These are the rooms I spend most of my time in.  Right now, I have a wooden bowl filled with potpourri and some witchy stitchin' that I did last year on my kitchen table in addition to the things on the oak shelf.

So, my stitchy friends, there ya go!  I really appreciate all your wonderful comments.  It makes me smile to know that you guys are out there!  Thanks for coming by and stop again!  There might just be ornaments for you to see....

Many blessings!

Joanie

Have you forgotten me???

Hello!  Have you forgotten me? 

I can't believe it's been over a month since my last post.  Color me *embarassed*.  It's not that I didn't want to blog, I just didn't think I had really anything to say.  I'v been stitching a little, certainly not like I have stitched before.  I am in a bit of a slump.  Not a full fledged "I'm never going to pick up a needle again" slump but more of a "I really don't want to stitch right now" slump.

I do want to show you my latest Halloween finishes though.  I finished them a few weeks ago but well, you know....slump.

 Lizzie Kate Halloween

Recommended fibers and fabric

Made into a long cube

 In Disguise

The Cricket Collection

DMC on 32 ct Raw Linen

I'm working on Christmas ornaments right now.  I am so close to finishing "Silent Night" by LHN.  I have about a dozen ornaments to finish.  I'm planning on breaking out the finishing next weekend when the David goes out of town.  I have a list about a mile long of things I want to do so wish me luck on the finishing.  I'm hoping that this finishing session will cure my "finishin phobia" once and for all.  Geez,  I never had such a problem before.

Anyway, thanks for dropping by....I am off to finish Sunday's dinner of pot roast, veggies and homemade pumpkin pie!

Herding Cats

This is how I feel right now.  Last week was a blur.  I didn't think that taking on a new job would toss me into such controlled chaos.  I've gotten used to being home, I had a routine and now, it's all changing.  Don't get me wrong, I am so blessed to have this job and I'm not complaining.  NOT. AT. ALL.  It's just shuffling stuff around again.  My commute has doubled and no longer will going to the grocery store be on the way home.  But it's all good!

I've stitched finally! Yesterday.  Almost the entire day.  I finished my little witch and today, I framed her.  She's adorable!  And I finished making a wall hanging for Halloween too. Just wait for pics though, it's been dark and dreary here in good ol' Upstate NY.  I'm switching gears now, Halloween stitching is officially over, now it's Autumn stitching until October.  Then it's Christmas stitching.  Ornaments.  I'm hoping to finish my Merrily Beam's sampler before the new year.  Oh, the plans!

I think I'm losing my mind though,  I've lost a completely stitched Halloween ornament.  I was going to finish it today but I can't find it.  Anywhere.  Last week, I misplaced my driver's liscence.  And I couldn't find my undergraduate degree to prove to my new employer that yes, I went to school.  Maddening.  I think it's stress.  Yea, that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.  (I am firmly denying "age".)

So before I return to work tomorrow, I'm going to stitch this evening away cause I'm not sure when I will get back to my needle.  I'm really tired when I come home and I need to start to walk again.  I'm gaining a bit of weight. :(   It's time to get back on track.

So, with that, I'm going to sign off for now.  I will be back soon, I promise! 

All Good Things Must Come to an End

Well, once again, I've been MIA on my blog.  Big surprise.  But I have an excuse!

I GOT A JOB!!!!

I start tomorrow.  The last 2 weeks have been really, really busy!  I interviewed last Thursday (18th) and got called back that afternoon to come for a second interview this past Friday.  I met the lady who's retiring and I met with the management team again.  They told me not to worry if I didn't hear from them for a few days.  Well, at 5PM the recruiter called and offered me the job starting tomorrow!  The only downside is that I am on probation with their temp agency for 30 days.  But, I can live with that.

I've been stitching.  Mainly Halloween goodies.  I did finish Lizzie*Kate's Halloween. I will take pic when the sun comes back out.

Well, for those affected by Irene, you've been in my prayers.  I hope that all of you are safe and sustained little or no damage.  Here, we've got flooding. 

So, wish me luck tomorrow cause it's the start of a Good Thing!

Stop by again,

Blessings,

Joanie

Where the Magic Happens - Usually...

Welcome! Please come in and make yourself home as I walk you through my creative space. My muse lives here and I find creativity and joy in this 10 x 12' space. It is here where I experiment with paint, fabric and of course, fiber.

Looking in the room from the entrance to the room, you see my work table straight ahead.  It faces South and I have views of the pond and the hayfields.  It's great to look out the window and be inspired.

(Pics are clickable)

Along the right wall you will find many things that I find inspiring.   Samplers that I recently stitched.  A picture of my first kitty, Puffer.



On the dresser that holds all my cross stitch fabric, I've set up a display of stitching things, scissors, Sajou cards, painted items. The round candy tin was my Mom's sewing box so it's got top billing on the dresser.

 Dresser (left side)

Continuing on the right side of the dresser, you find my first piece of needlework I made for my husband right after we were married. He had it on his desk at work for many years. It's a cruel piece of crewel embroidery but I did make it with love.  Also, you will find jars of buttons, marbles, spools of thread and a lovely lady pincushion.

(Dresser - right side)

 

Above the dresser is an 8' shelf.  This shelf holds memories, toys of my childhood, items of my home, things that I love, some of Mike's things. This shelf is sentimental and it's filled with items that remind me of my home, my parents, and good times.

The stuffed animals were Mikes.  Buzz Lightyear is my reminder that anything is possible if you believe. I love the toothy alligator, behind that is an art piece made by Mike.  The clock cookie jar was in my Mom's kitchen.

Continuing along the shelf there's funky plaques that hung in my parent's home,  a Huckleberry Hound bank that was mine when I was a child and a stack of old cameras.

Underneath the shelf is a pantry that holds some pieces from exchanges, patterns.  On the top of the pantry, there's a Mr. Machine that was a childhood toy.  I loved that toy! And I have a thing for bunnys.

To the right of the window is a peg shelf that holds a stitched piece made just for this room. A Mcoy planter holding wooden spoons from my Grandma.  Folk art painted pieces from another lifetime.

On the peg is my Dad's work hat.  I treasure that hat.  When he wore it, I knew he was in his groove, fixing, painting or sprucing something up.

Underneath that peg shelf is another book shelf.  If you look on the top, there's a nod to cross stitch.  On the shelves below you will find Halloween goodies, more books(!) and a tray of stuffed goodies that I put out during the various holidays throughout the year.

Then, we turn to the right wall.  The wall of storage.  In the hatbox, you will find just about every card, letter or keepsake from my DH and son. Baskets hold ribbons, cards, paint tubes. DMC is stored in those nuts and bolts containers. And there's my typewriter from high school. LOL.  The pantry holds my painting supplies.  The drawers hold stitching supplies.  Further to the right is another pantry unit that's stuffed with binders that hold my cross stitch patterns.  The globes were from childhood too. I love globes and would collect them if I had the room.  In this pic, you can see the color of the room.  Tangerine!  Love the color, it's so cheery!



And swinging back around to the back wall, you'll find an overstuffed bookshelf.  Cross stitch, work books, quilting books and some novels that I can't part with live here.  The paper mache pumpkin is another childhood piece.  It's at least 50 years old.

So kids, this is the place where I find inspiration, joy and peace. It's still a work in progress and that's what I like about it. As art and my style evolves, so will the room. Thanks for visiting and I hope you'll come back again!

Joanie


When We Last Left Our Plucky Stitcher....

She acquired some stash (Shh-hh-h, that's not all of it!).

(Pics are clickable)

She contemplated Halloween / Autumn /Christmas stitching:

Made progress on the Beeman's Garden but didn't finish it in time to get framed: 



Stalled on Do Unto Others:

Love that hive!!!

Got "Bewitched"

Picked out a frame for the little witch: (Aquired at HomeGoods, my new BFF store!)

Pattern for the little witch cause I know you'll ask.

Candy Corn too!

And finished Lizzie*Kate's Halloween to be made into a long cube using the fabric behind it:

Stitched up a linen pumpkin (I see more of these in my future!):

Pulled out another finish that has been buried far too long (Stitched when Mike was 6 and he's now 24. Do the math.) and will be made into a wallhanging:

And contemplated working out until Miss Ella beat her to the treadmill.

I took pics of my stitching /craft room too but I won't bore you with all of them just yet.  Here's a tease though:

So my friends, there you go!  A post with PICTURES!! Go me!  LOL!!!
Thanks for coming by and seeing what's going on in my world.
Keep stitching, kids. 

Joanie



Oh My...Has It Really Been That Long?

Over 2 weeks since my last post.  Shame, shame on me!

Well, what's been going on with me.  A whole lot a' nuthin' besides the job search and taking care of house-y type stuff that looks like it would only take an hour or so to do but ends up taking most of the day.  I honestly don't know how I did it when I was working, I think I used to "slick" housekeep, not doing a thorough job but "slicking" it to make it look presentable and hiding the rest.  Now, I'm actually doing a complete job and I'm embarassed to tell you that I'm embarassed at the housekeeper that I am.  I used to blame alot of things on our critters (dragging in dirt from the barn, the cats and the dog) and the DH.  But, now that I have "time", I'm realizing that I was a large contributor to the state of affairs at Chez Dirt.  Oh, say it's not so!  But it IS!  Hopefully, my house drudgery now will prevent me from house fudgery later on when I get back to work (which isn't looking like any time soon). 

I am actively being courted by a recruiter for a firm in Nashua NH.  It would mean me moving away in order to take this job if it presents itself.  The DH and I talked about it and it's doable for awhile until the economy in NY rights itself.  The job would look fabulous on my resume, it's management and dealing with medical device compliance.  But there are a couple of glitches, I've managed teams but never a department and although I have experience in medical compliance, my previous employer was not a final device manufacturer so we were not involved with FDA submissions or QSR 820.  Weak areas in my work experience.  But nothing I couldn't handle.  It's convincing the company to take a chance on a rookie who would have to learn by doing instead of hitting the ground running. 

Stitching wise, I sorta lost my mojo during the last heat wave and the last round of resume rejections.  I switched my focus from stitching on Done By Me and the BeeMan to small things for Halloween.  (Although BeeMan is so close to being done I might just finish it off and use my 60% off Michaels coupon to get it framed.)  I've stitched Halloween from Lizzie Kate that I want to make into a long cube and I'm working on a little witch from The Cricket Collection and Candy Corn from With Thy Needle and Thread.  I found the bestest frame for the witch at HomeGoods (my BFF store!).  I'll post pictures soon. We are having a blessed day of gentle rain (sorry Texas) that my gardens sorely needed but it's not conducive to photoshoots. The light is not present so the pictures taken with my little camera wouldn't do the designs justice.

If you could, please keep my boy and all the soldiers in your prayers, I read today that 31 of our finest were killed today.  I'm sure the news is weighing heavily on him.  And he's been working around the clock, on what he can not tell me, so I know it's not good. 

So sorry for the long winded, un-pictured post but I did want to check in to say I'm HERE!!  (waving to everyone new and old).  Thanks for dropping by...until next time...

Joanie

Accuquilt Go Baby Give Away

Run!

Check out Amystitches for 3 chances to win an Accuquilt Go Baby and 3 dies of your choice. 

Just Buzzz-zzin' Along

I broke down and stitched the Bee Man's hive.  I couldn't wait anymore and that's true to my nature.  Patience has never been a virtue with me and I guess I'm into "instant gratification".  Besides, I just couldn't wait!

And the artsy one. Look, I promised better pics, right?

I am on a personal mission to finish this before the 23rd because I have a 60% off coupon from Michaels  burning a hole in the bottom of my purse. I only have the bottom section and the bottom border to finish.  Wish me luck!

See ya soon!

Joanie

Alphabets and Summer Baskets

Hi kids,

Today, I took some pictures (click, they get BIG) of my finished and framed Alphabets and Blackbird Designs Summer Basket.  Finally, they came out nice.  I'm pleased with the framing and I am tickled pink with the frame. I'll let the pics do the talkin'.

 Alphabets

Merrily A. Beams

AVAS 946

32 ct Belfast - Cream

Don't you just love the red birds?

I don't think I ever showed you Summer Basket framed.  I got this framed at AC MOORE and never again will I go back there even if the framing is free.  It was mounted crooked and their were lint balls under the glass.  A disappointing job.  I like the frame though.

I loved the colors in this sampler.  So soft and faded. 

 Summer Basket

Blackbird Designs

GAST & WDW thread

30ct Weeks Dye Works linen - Baby's Breath

I dedicated this sampler to my Mom.  These are her initials.  She would have liked this sampler.  Especially the bands of sampler motifs.

 And the frame.

Well, that concludes today's artsy pics.  LOL!  I've got to run. I am the laundress today and I have clothes to hang out on the line and I want to take my walk before hell's temps return.  It's supposed to be 90 degrees here today.  Stay cool and hydrated!  Wear sunscreen and a hat if you are working in your gardens. Enjoy this day because it's what you're supposed to do. (This concludes our public service / safety announcement for today.)

Oh, I lost a follower...I hope it wasn't something I said or didn't say. Sorry that my world wasn't someplace you wanted to be... :(

Happy Monday, my friends. Thanks for coming by!

Till next time...
Joanie

Some pictures

I've been stitching in between haying.  I HATE putting in hay especially now that the temperature is one degree below hell's temps.  The bales are really heavy this year...upwards of 50-75 pounds and I struggle with putting them on the elevator.  Yesterday, one bale came crashing down off the elevator and hit the elevator motor knocking it out.  The DH was PO'd because we had to unload 75 bales into the barn and now we will have to handle them again to put them in the loft.  Today, he put in 150 by himself.  Officially, we are 1/2 way done with our 500 bales.  He will get more this evening. So hopefully we will have almost all of it done before the weather gets rainy.  Oh, he did fix the motor on the elevator.

So here's what I've been up to as documented by craptastic photos.

Progress has been made on Done By Me.  I am obsessing over restitching the really light color in the basket and in the flower urn.  It fades into the fabric.  But I can't find a shade or color that suits me.  (Sorry for the wrinkles, I pressed them but as you can see not well.  Pics should be clickable.)

In the Bee Man's Garden.  I am really looking forward to stitching the hive in satin stitch.  But I will do it last because I don't want the hive to get crushed by my hoop.  It's incentive to hurry up and finish!

 Actually, Ella has the right idea on this hot afternoon...maybe a nap is in order?

I got Alphabets back from the framer at Michaels...oh, it's gorgeous. You'll get to see that in the next post.  The pics I took are all fuzzy.  Grr-rrr.  I also stitched August from A Prairie Year.  Cute beehive. And I actually finished all of my Fourth of July things this year.  They are in the previous post. 

I really got to take my time with this photo thing.  You guys who set up beautiful shots just make me want to hang my head in shame.  Mainly, I'm in such a hurry to post that I don't take my time to do anything artsy with my pics.  Should I slow down, maybe?

Anyway, stay cool, I'm going to put a few stitches into Bee Man while I wait for the DH to come home from getting tires on the truck. Come by again...you may be surprised at my creative photos next time!

Happy 4th of July!

Just poppin' in to say Happy Independence Day to all my friends here in the US. Today, we are chillin' and grillin'.

Later, we will be going to the community fireworks.  A low key day overall but none the less enjoyable.

Stay safe if you're playing with pyrotechnics and have a great day!

I Have A New Boyfriend...

His name is Adam but he has a girlfriend named Eve.  They live beneath an apple tree that Eve adores.  And I believe they have a charming pet snake that Eve shouldn't pay attention to but he's pretty persuasive! 
Yes, I've been bitten by the A&E sampler bug!  I'm up to my eyeballs looking for that couple and their pal, Mr. Serpent.

And I've been charmed by older patterns, now I'm on a Merrily Beams hunt.  Does anyone have a  know how many patterns she published? She published her designs under Merrily Beams, The Sewing Bird.

Now, to tie this together.

Merrily Beams published an Adam and Eve sampler.  And I am on the hunt for it for myself and for another obsessed A&E lover.  Gosh, we sound kinky, don't we?  Anyway...I've searched high and low.  Obviously very OOP but I'm sure it's spending time in someone's stash. And maybe, that someone is willing to quench the desire burning in the heart of this newly obsessed lover.

If you have that pattern and are willing to let it go for a reasonable price or a trade from my enormous stash let me know.

And, if you have any Merrily Beams that you want to send to a loving home, I'm that address.  Thanks for helping and I'll be back with update pictures. I'm making progress on the Bee Man and Done By Me.

Happy day!

I'm Ready For My Screen Shot, Mr. DeMille

Before we start, I have a favor to ask.  I am looking for a Cross-eyed Cricket pattern, Leaflet 171 called Green Thumb.  Is there anyone out there that wants to part with it?  I've got a ton of stash to trade or if you want, I can pay a reasonable price...let me know, K?

Now for the pictures...TA DAA!!!!

Here's my OLDEST WIP and it' now finished!  I can't believe that I waited over 25 years to finish it.  Granted, I had the unfortunate red candle incident but still...

 Alphabet Sampler

Leisure Arts #280

14ct. White Aida

DMC

 Alphabet Sampler Bottom

 Alphabet Sampler Top

This is the Merrily Beam's Sampler I'm stitching for Lee's "Older But Better" SAL.  You can see it in all it's 1980's funky colors.  But I like it!

 Done By Me - 1982

Merrily Beams

32ct Flax Linen

Recommended DMC

I worked a little on the Bee Man tonight - I've stitched most of the verse.  I really, really like this sampler and now, I'm looking all over the internet looking for more patterns with Bee Skeps. 

 The Bee Man's Sampler

The Goode Huswife

32ct Vintage Country Mocha

Lastly is I Sigh not for Beauty that I'm stitching as a year long SAL with Ellen Chester's With Thy Needle and Pen's group.  I'm hopelessly behind now but I have to be in the right frame of mind to stitch on her. I don't mind the arcaded border but those pomegranate flowers..oh my, they tax my patience.

I Sigh not for Beauty

SANQ

32ct Antique Ivory

DMC

And the Wips, that were finished a long time ago, soon to be made into pinpillows and pinkeeps:

 LHN Watermelon

32ct Flax Linen

Crescent Color Overdyes - Cotton

Ewe and Eye and Friends

Liberty House

32ct Lambswool Linen

Recommended Threads

So, that's all folks, I hope you like what I've done.  I'd write more but I have to go to sleep. I'm tired.  I've been up late going through job boards looking for work.  So far nada, zilch, and zero.  I've applied to a few local companies but I don't think I'm even going to get a second look.  Sigh.

Thanks for stopping by....love to have you visit!