Sabbatical

If I'm totally honest, I did not intend to take a 9 month sabbatical from blogging... It just happened.  Then, I wondered, if I really want to call it a sabbatical, shouldn't I just go and take off a full year?  After two seconds of consideration, I came to the conclusion that if I felt like blogging, I should blog.
Sooooooo...... Hellllooooooooo!  Life has been very full in 2016.  Having a baby in the family has given all of us great joy even though she lives a full nine hour drive away.  K1 (as I'll call her here) will be 14 months old tomorrow.

 Luckily, hubby and I have gotten to visit her five time since she was born and are always planning our next visit.  She's the sweetest thing. Ever.

On the stitching front, I have actually logged many stitching and beading (!) hours since my last post.  I won't try to catch up with this single post, but here is peek at my current WIP (a piano bench cover):

Ultimately, the bargello pattern will have five shades of red and four shades of grey, giving it a very OSU look.  It's all Paternayan yarn (two strands) on 13/14 ct. monocanvas.  This is the largest thing I've ever tried to stitch but it is very relaxing since the pattern is repetitious.

Next time, I'll share some of the beading I have finished this year.  Beading is NOT my 'thang' so to have three (actually four, but you'd have to ask my thieving sister about that) whole pieces completed within one year has me very chuffed.

Stitch Happy!

The Wedding Sampler

Silly me - I forgot to post a finished pic of the non-traditional wedding sampler I did for my stepson and his wife.  Instead of full names, dates, etc., it only shows their married monogram.  The border design is from My Big Toe "Wedding Sampler".  I omitted the charted verse to make room for their monogram.  Working such a fussy border with two shades of variegated purples was not my favorite thing in the world but their wedding colors were white, grey and shades of lavender so the grey linen and purple threads do remind me, and hopefully them, of their special day.

The central G is my first attempt at freehand embroidery letters.  It is far from perfect but at arms length I'll rate it a B+.  Fingers crossed, I will be taking Canby Robertson's class on embroidered lettering next fall in Alexandria VA.  Hope to learn the right way to do it then...

Until next time, Stitch Happy!

Old UFOs, New Happy Dances

Hello friends, it is I, the (unapologetic) lazy blogger... I have rediscovered my stitching mojo and made the most of it this summer/fall.  Having grown disgusted with the number of pieces I have "half-finished", I made a concerted effort to polish a few of them off before the ball drops on 2016.  And, I'm happy to report that it has been a productive season.

Primarily though, we are enjoying the newest edition to our family (granddaughter Kamrynn).  She is almost 19 weeks old and changing so much.  We are excited to visit her again in December for her first Christmas.

And, here are the stitching finishes I'm pleased as punch to share with you:

Kelly Clark Needlepoint

Irish mini stocking

too many threads and beads to list

(began in 2013)

"Turning Leaves" by Laura J. Perin

threads:  Watercolours, #5 perle cotton, metallics and beads

(began November 2013)

"Gathering Pinecones" by Hillside Samplings

(began Spring 2011)

In addition to these, I also finished Kamrynn's birth sampler, as well as two small huck weaving pieces taught during EGA monthly meetings.  I'll show you those three next time.  Until then,

Stitch Happy!

Guess Who...

You know it's been awhile since you updated your blog when you log in and Blogger says, "Who?  I'm sorry.  No one by that name lives here."

My deepest apologies for dropping off the face of the planet, but two years worth of "I'll get to that later" caught up with me about a month ago.  It all started with "Honey, have you seen the lid to this bowl?".  Which precipitated the emptying out and re-organizing of the pantry.  I threw away tea I bought when I was in college... 20 years ago...

You've seen this movie, right?  The "Git 'r Done" high you get from cleaning out a small area makes you think you are Super Girl and should tackle the closets, junk drawers, laundry room, kitchen cabinets, garage, garden, deck, car and everything else that has been overtaken by "I don't have time to deal with this right now".  Well, yes...that's exactly what I've been doing for the last four weeks, in addition to working very long days, six days a week. 

The Virgo in me is proud to say that as I sit here blogging at something til 2 am, the laundry is caught up, every dish I own is clean, the plants are watered, the fam is fed, the garden has been tended, the decks have been swabbed, the sheets have been changed, the pictures have been framed, car has been washed, oil has been changed, hair will be cut, and on and on...  I'm ashamed to say how long it's taken me to get my round tuit. 

As you may know (if you've been here before), hubby and I were on vaycay all of May.  Then we have June (a.k.a. the month of "Wine and Roses") with Father's Day, Sister's Birthday, Hubby's Birthday and anniversary.  So, as you can imagine, between prepping for our trip, then the actual trip, then celebrating something different every third day, there has not been much time for blogging. 

However, for hubby and me, the Fourth of July is always the marker of the slower pace of summer.  Personally, I can't wait.  I've whittled my "To Do" list down to the bare nubbin's, and believe I can see some serious stitching time in my very near future. 

I know. 

I KEEP saying that. 

:-))

Happy Fourth, friends!

An extra hour to play catch-up

Who likes losing an hour of daylight?  Not me, but...waking up at my normal time, I find myself with an extra hour before church.  Hummm....should I run the sweeper? start some laundry?  or enjoy a leisurely latte, snap a couple of quick pics and blog a little?  Yes.  Door #3 please.


If you've been keeping up with me here, you may realize I've been making favors for the annual Christmas party and therefore haven't been able to post many stitching pics lately.  I'd really like everyone to be surprised.   However...  I've put a few door prizes together to go with our White Christmas theme that I'm just dying to share!  So, since I'm really good at breaking my own rules making executive decisions, here are a few Christmas party door prizes (not favors) for your viewing pleasure:

I might have paid 25 cents for this milk glass compote at my local salvage store.  Not sure what I would do with it when I bought it, I started to scour my many Christmas publications and the internet for White Christmas ideas.  That was that a BIG mistake.  Now, I have seventy-eleven ideas running around in my head that I would love Love LOVE to put together before December 11.  Alas, I am still making the individual favors, so I must limit the time I spend on these door prizes.

The little blue bird was quick and fun.  Machine stitching made fast work of the construction, but as always, I left myself a too-small hole to turn the thing right side out and stuff.  Eventually, with the help of a chop stick and tweezers, I got it turned and stuffed. 

As much as I loved making the little bird, I think the best thing about this gift is the perforated rim on the dish.  Perfect to hold a pair (or three or ten) of your favorite embroidery scissors.

Different dish, same perforated rim:

This one just screamed PEPPERMINT CANDY BOWL to me, for some reason...so with a few cents worth of ribbon and peppermint, VOILA!

Even though the greenery is plastic, didn't this turn out pretty?  I really like the hobnail vase.......A LOT......hummm...

Moving right along..

I call this one "Bon-Bons in the Bathtub". 

Who couldn't use a little candle/teabag dish, candle, Moonlight Path gel, poof, and white chocolate truffles.  Sounds like a good way to spend an hour or two to me!

You can't tell from the photo but this one is made like a goblet.   I liked it as a potpourri/candle holder but it would also make a great server for pistachios, mints, cocktail sauce, veggie dip, olives, whatever. 


My challenge has been to spend as little as possible on door prizes since I shot the favor budget on, well, favors.  It has actually been fun to up-cycle, repurpose, and use what I had on hand to put together door prizes I wouldn't mind winning myself.  Wish I could show you the favors too.  :-(    Sorry Charlies.  You'll just have to be patient and see them in December.  :-)


I'm working on about four other door prizes that I may have time to share with you before the party.  One of them is my favorite thus far...  :-))


So, to say it local-like, "Y'all come!"


Hubby has been busy as a beaver lately too.   Several months back I showed him the bamboo DMC floss cabinet

that is being sold for $229 plus S and H.   And maybe I might have suggested that he should tell Santa about it.  Last week, he surprised me with not only a beautiful two-tone treasure chest (monogrammed, no less) but also a table to go with!

Not wanting the cabinet to get too much direct sunlight, the table will play host to my tea tray and elephant parade

while the chest will be situated close by, but not directly in the sun.

Check out the felt lining...

I love it very much.  :-)

I'm ashamed that I have yet to show you the work table he made for me, but every time I photograph it, I'm too embarrassed by my mess in, on and around it to post it.  As soon as I get a chance though, I promise I'll clear it off and share.


So, if you've made it this far, I really appreciate you taking time to catch up with me.   And, I am wishing you and yours a beautiful season of Thanksgiving...

Columbus Day Weekend

Camera practice down the Blue Ridge Parkway:



Natural Bridge, Virginia



Hope you had an awe inspired weekend too.

Week in Review

Wow, what a week!   I can't believe it was a week yesterday that I arrived back home from San Francisco.  My o my how time gets away from me.

Besides working all week, I attended chapter meeting on Monday night and was reminded that I had not posted my little airplane Assisi finish here. 

It's not much to write home about (is this all I could get stitched on a cross-country flight?  I must be out of shape!).  I thought it might make a cute soft ruler/floss tag or maybe even an envelope front for some mail art...  I stitched it with the new Florimell silk thread from Gloriana which I talked about in my last post.  I can not overstate how fantabuloso this thread is.  It goes for about $1/yard.  The color above is Autumn Arbor and is so much prettier in real life.  Below is Poinsettia and Old Gold.

o yes they are that gorgeous!  And you should feel them!

Wednesday was my 'official' birthday except I tend to celebrate all month long.  (Don't cha know about half the stuff I bought in San Francisco was 'for my birthday'!)  Hubby, sis and faa-ther were so generous and thoughtful.  Hubs sent flowers to work and had flowers at home, took me to my favorite local restaurant for dinner, gave me a new filter for my new camera (which was an 'early' birthday present from him last month), scored some of those wonderful Anniversary beans from Bucky's (aka Starbucks), brought home an honest-to-goodness birthday cake, and gave me one of the sweetest cards ever!  Sis and Dad put together an enormous gift box o'camera paraphernalia for me.  I can't wait to use the mono-pod, case, album, et.al.  

Really, I was totally spoiled this year.  :-D

And rounding out the week, my EGA chapter hosted its big fund raising event last night, the Basket BINGO! 

I baked peanut butter blossom cookies for the baked goods sale and MAN did they smell good.  I was rushing around and forgot to save any for home, so I couldn't tell you how they turned out..  But, since they sold out, I guess they tasted ok.  It felt good to be cooking in my kitchen again after being away from it for awhile.  I also had some help in the kitchen from Flat Stanley.

Flat Stanley is my XSDN*, Hannah Faith's 3rd grade project currently.  She sent Flat Stanley to me from her school in Texas so he could have adventures with me here in WV and then return with his stories to TX.  He and I grabbed a venti early Saturday morning,

then dashed off to the grocery for cookie supplies,

retuned home to whip up a few batches,

and then headed to BINGO. 

He did a great job helping me play my cards, but sadly, no BINGOs for me all night!  I did however win a nice doorprize and The Sister won 4 times (2 prizes for herself and 2 for others from her workplace).  She was born under a lucky star.

After church today, I think I'll take Flat Stanley to the local no-kill animal shelter so he can pick out a Flat Spot.  I'm sure my XSDN won't mind if Stanley comes back to TX with a best friend! 

I promise to post a few shots of my stash experience from National next time.  Airline luggage weight limits rained on my bookstore parade, but I was pleased with the few books I did bring home. 

Until then friends, I hope you are stitching as much as your heart desires.

Cheers!


*XSDN = extra special darling niece

a fly-by

Hi Everybody!   This is just a fly-by posting.

I was off work with hubby who had oral surgery today.  Oh yeah, nuttin' but fun.  However, it was one of the finest days I can remember all summer.  The weather was beautiful, I wore jeans and sandals all day, and even had time to go to the store and make a delicious dinner before 7:30P.   The heat and humidity have finally loosened their grip on us so even the evening dog walk is much more enjoyable. 

Tomorrow is MIL's 94th birthday (shhhh....you didn't hear it from me). 

Tomorrow, we'll spend the evening with her and probably some fried chicken.

As a very early birthday present to me, hubby gave me a new Canon digital camera to take with me to SF!  I'm super excited to learn all about it.  Susan, over at Plays With Needles, has posted some helpful info about some online photography courses which she credits for improving her camera skills, which I must say, were fantabulous to begin with.  Skip on over there and check her out.  O the eye candy she feeds us!

This weekend is my last before leaving for San Fran on the 4th. Which means laundry, laundry, packing, checklists, etc. Family from Georgia will be in a week from tomorrow, so if I'm smart, I'll go ahead and pack this weekend. With a pre-7 am flight, I'm thinking I won't be up for any last minute preparations.

My classes at National are #1) Marsha Papay Gomola's stumpwork:

which should only take me about seventy-eleven years to finish.

and #2) Carolyn Standing Webb's Finishing class which I will use to put together the stumpwork set, in the year 20next-to-never.

:-)

I couldn't be more excited. 

Enjoy what's left of your summer friends.  The ol' blue marble is coming 'round the bend, rolling right on into Fall.  

Aahhhhhhhh. I like the sounds of that.

Special Friday

Last night, my XSDNs were sooooo excited about all the things we can do during their visit, we decided to made a list so we could decide what we were going to do first. 

Then we changed the list seventy-eleven times.

Then, once etched in stone, we did a "live" broadcast from the back deck about the Special Friday List of Things To Do, which include:

Smoothie Breakfast:

Tidy room and Get Ready!

Ladies that Lunch:

Lunch at Lake Dave:

K9 Lovin':

And LOTS of fashion show preparations.  There are tickets, programs, snack tickets, two acts, and intermission and two costume changes.....times three girls.  If I make it, those pics will be up before Monday.

Now, it's dog-walking time so we can get off to our early dinner at the Chinese buffet and back in time for the Special Friday Fashion Show!

Hope you have a Magical Weekend too!

The "Fam"

Everybody now - into the LAZYBOY! Nothing says lovin' like post-Thanksgiving feast cuddle-up in the blue chair. Mommy's girl or Daddy's girl? You decide.