Resolutions

Okay, I wasn't going to do this but here it is:

I resolve to:

• Buy more craft stuff than I know what to do with, whether I have the money or not.

• To always have at least a dozen projects started and still think to myself, "Hmm, what do I want to work on next?"
  

• Not finish cleaning out the garage, unless for some reason we have to move and then it will get done anyway. Not clean, but moved to another location. But that would make THIS garage clean, right?
  

• Keep my guest room a total mess until the night before someone comes to visit. Then I will relocate as much crap as I can to another location until the guests leave. Then put everything back on the floor, the bed and where ever else I can - right back where it really belongs.
  

• Keep good food in the fridge and still eat out whenever possible.

• Spend too much money on coffee from Starbucks.

• Not give a crap what anybody else thinks about what I say or do.

• Stay up way too late as often as possible and sleep in late like the bum that I am.

• To post on this blog whenever I feel like it and not because I feel like I HAVE to.
  

I figured that this year I may as well make some resolutions I could stick with.

***This list is subject to change at any time due to my mood, personal feelings, lack of sleep, or just cause I darn well feel like it.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Quick Post!

Sorry I have not been around much lately. I am so far behind on reading blogs, too! My husband is here until mid December and my son and his girlfriend were here for a week and I have been busy cooking, cleaning and visiting! We made a short trip to visit hubby's mom and time is just flying by too quickly. I have started to update my photo albums a little. One album is just my Fair & Square exchanges, one is all other exchanges and now I have one just for my beaded things. I am still loving the beaded stuff and I think that is what everyone will get for Christmas this year. Yep, even the guys! I found these really cool secret compartment key chains to make for them, and am working on bracelet and earring sets for the ladies. I will post pictures of some of those after hubby leaves. Until then, I have posted the other bracelets I have made in the album so you can look there if you like. Hope everyone is enjoying getting ready for Christmas!
Have a great day!

If you can't make it, buy it!

I really meant to post this much sooner but here it is. I ordered these from Corkycat's Etsy store and received them last week. Aren't they cool? Very nice quality and the price is unbeatable for something hand made. I love my new earrings and the ornament hangers will go nicely with the ornaments I will be giving for Christmas. As much as I love to make things myself, I can't do it all. There are some wonderful crafters out there that make really nice things for a reasonable price. I encourage you to take a look at her store, and others out there to enhance your gift giving this year. Handmade is so much better!

Bead Classes and My Lucky Win!

Here are some of my latest beading pieces. Yes, I know there is only one earring. I am going to make the other one in a few minutes =) Isn't it cool? I also finally finished the candy corn bracelet. Just in time for next year! I have a patriotic one in the works and will show it as soon as it is finished. I took another class yesterday and that is where I made the earring and started another bracelet. It is really neat and I can't wait to get more done on it so I can show a progress photo. I never thought I would end up making jewelry. Really. Heck, I might even start wearing it too! I have so many ideas for things I want to make that I think this phase will probably last a while. We'll see. I am taking an ornament class tonight!!!

Here is my lucky win! Staci had a blog drawing last week and I received my gift on Monday. I could not post sooner because I ended up having to go to the dentist for an emergency visit. I just love surface embroidery and am so pleased to have a piece from Staci. That reminds me, I know I have some patterns for that around here somewhere. Thank you so much Staci!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

Yesterday I received a very special package from my friend Marie. At first, I thought that maybe she had my name for the floss tag exchange on HOE, but then I opened it and saw that she sent me a most awesome belated birthday present. Thank you so very much, Marie. Your thoughtfulness means more to me than you could know. You are such a special friend and I really hope that someday we will get to meet in person.


Okay, Here is what I have been up to lately. It still involves a needle and thread, but I haven't been stitching. I am learning to make jewelry. It all started with wanting to learn how to make beaded fobs. One trip to the bead store and my curiosity was peaked. I kept telling myself, "You don't even wear jewelry so there is no reason to even get started on that! Hmmmm, I could make it for gifts...... Pretty, shiny jewelry....... I could get my ears re-pierced and make earrings...... you have classes? I love to take classes!"..... I have taken three classes this week. The first one is the red and white bracelet. I immediately made the orange and black one as soon as I got home from the class to wear for Halloween. The second class project isn't pictured because it isn't finished yet. It is way more involved and will take another sitting or two to get done. Then yesterday I learned how to make the gold and white one. So pretty! More on this subject coming soon =)
Have a great day!

Worth the wait!!!

Just as I finished updating my blog and photo albums, my daughter walks in with a package for me! This is my Quaker Animal exchange from Judy. I love it! The Quaker Rooster is adorable and finished very nicely into a pillow. The extra goodies are wonderful, too! Patriotic fabrics, threads, needles, the JCS Ornament issue and the Lizzie Kate kit!!! I truly appreciate your thoughtfulness and generosity. Thank you so much!!!
Have a great day!

Finishing Class Projects & Gift for Hubby

My husband received his birthday package and now I can show you what I stitched for him to hang in his office. This is Pirate's Creed by Sue Hillis Designs. I framed it myself. See, you have to learn how to do these things yourself if you are one of those right up to the last minutes kind of stitchers like me ;)

Here are the projects from the finishing class I took at my LNS on Saturday. The charts are Shepherd's Bush freebies and we made a flat fold (or easel), and a Christmas ornament with a beaded edge. Absolutely NO GLUE was used in the process and I am very excited to have learned how to hand sew the cording on. Now I am busy stitching on the pieces for the next class which is November 1st. We will learn to finish a hockey puck shaped pin cushion and a biscornu with tassels.

Now I am off to do more laundry and stitch on my Quaker frog that I started some time ago. Have a great day!

Halloween Exchange Landed!

Here are the pieces I made for Becky for our personal Halloween exchange. I had SO MUCH FUN making these things for her. The patterns are both from Barbara Ana Designs and are "Don't Bug Me!" and "Hallowscornu" which I made into a needle case. The photos of the inside and the back are below. I just learned how to make the beaded accessories so I was very excited to include the beaded fob and counter/threader. Seems I am now addicted to buying beads. Uh-oh.
The wool felt square is removable making it easier to use.
Here is how the back looks. I love it so much that I will definitely be stitching it again =) I am so very happy that she liked what I sent to her!
Have a great day!

Exchanges Sent & Received!!!

Here are the Fair & Square Autumn squares I received from Margit. Thank you, Margit! They are very pretty. I love the postcard, too! You didn't even know that I collect them and that my favorites are the ones with lighthouses on them =)

Here are the awesome goodies I received from Cathy B for the HOE Halloween Exchange!!! I am thrilled with the wonderful fob she stitched for me and I put it on the scissors she sent right away! You can see the second side of the fob with the scissors in the next photo. She also sent some yummy treats as well as a pattern from one of my favorite designers (LHN), a Halloween kitchen towel, WDW threads, two beautiful fat quarters that will come in very handy for finishing, all wrapped in festive paper. Oh, and another postcard for my collection!!!

Here is what I sent to Stephanie for the HOE Halloween exchange. If you want to see better photos, click on over to her blog because she took some really good pics. As you can see, I am really hooked on making those pin keeps. They are so much fun!

Now, I really HAVE to go and frame the picture I stitched for my hubby who's birthday is FRIDAY. Yes, it will be very late especially since I still have to send it all the way to KOREA =( Sorry hunny. I will be spending the whole evening working on that and a couple other things that need finishing so I can go to the post office tomorrow. Yay! And then I can stitch more, more, more! Folks, I AM living the dream =)
Have a great day!

More Stitching Photos

Here are the Halloween squares I sent to Lisa for the Halloween Fair & Square round. As you can see we selected the same exact pattern to stitch for each other. Isn't that funny? This is from the JCS Halloween Issue.








Next we have the squares I sent to Jenn for Round 9 of the Fair & Square Exchange. This is from one of the Tiny Tidings patterns.










Here we have the little birthday/thank you treat I sent to Joan. She loves Halloween and has designed some wonderful free charts for a Halloween SAL I am in. She has her own Yahoo group here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sapphirestitching/



I am still waiting for two more exchanges to arrive to their recipients and then I can post those pics as well. Have a great day!

I'm Speechless!!!

Just look at what the mailman brought me yesterday!!! This is what Becky made for me in her personal Halloween exchange. I feel so blessed to have such an awesome piece of her work. I love it!!! I am thinking now that I will have to have a Halloween display up in my house year-round because I am NOT putting this away! Thank you so very much, Becky. I will treasure it always =)

Thank you for letting me use your photos!

Ornaments, Exchanges, & "Let's Stitch"

I am finally getting around to making myself do some finishing work. I think the exchanges really help because it forces me to try new techniques and to get things done because I HAVE to get them into the mail. Now, above you see one Halloween ornament and one Christmas ornament. There is one more Christmas ornament that I finished but it is in the mail ;)

I heard from Joan that she received the HOE Prairie Schooler exchange from me. I stitched the "stick it here" freebie and made it into a pin keep for her. It was a fun stitch and I am sure that I will stitch it again!

Now, for the goal setting part of this message. I have joined up with Becky at her "Let's Stitch" blog and am looking forward to being motivated to work on my UFO's and stash collection. I am just getting started on the organization of the kitted up projects. Here is my pink plastic tote filled with my needlework smalls projects (the ones I have found so far, that is).

• A Secret Garden Needlework Necessary (from a class I took long ago)
• Just Nan - Common Ground Accessories
• Just Nan - Miss Kitty's Dragons Needle case
• Just Nan - Octagonal Peacock Pocket
• Just Nan - Dragonfly Scissor Purse
• Ewe & Eye & Friends - Big Heart Paperweight (mine will be a pin cushion)
• Ewe & Eye & Friends - St. Nick Scissor Companion
• Ewe & Eye & Friends - Polka Dot Scissor Companion
• Heartland Needleworks - Rosey Tote, scissor sheath, needle case & biscornu set
• From the Heart - Sewing Pocket and Pocket Smalls
• Periwinkle Promises - "United We Stand" Sampler Accent
• Periwinkle Promises - "Hope" Sampler Accent
• Shepherd's Bush - Tiny Flag
• Shepherd's Bush - Shepherd's Scissor Fob
• Shepherd's Bush - Shepherd's Roll
• Shepherd's Bush - Shepherd's Purse
• Shepherd's Bush - Stitcher's Roll
• Shepherd's Bush - Snow Fall Roll
• Shepherd's Bush - Millennium Roll (yep, I'm embarrassed that this is not done)
• Shepherd's Bush - Glory Fob
• Shepherd's Bush - Christmas Treat Bag
• LHN - Wool Needlebook and Scissor Fob
• LHN - Schoolgirl Samplings - make a fob from pattern
• With My Needle - smalls from JCS Ornament Issues 2003-06
  

Next week I will purchase a couple more containers for organizing more of the stash. I plan to have one container for samplers, one (I hope just one) of the miscellaneous kits I have, one for UFO's, and we'll see what other categories I think of. I am really excited about this!!!

I mailed out a few more exchanges today and when they arrive, I will post their photos. I think I am comfortably caught up with this now. Just need to do one more finishing on something so I can mail it out this week.

Have a great day!

We have a winner!

Congratulations to Dawn B. for winning the two little Halloween Mill Hill kits. I will get those sent out as soon as I hear from you =) I will do more giveaways later. I need to take some time to work on exchanges and am still going through my stash to see what else might be a fun drawing prize. Thank you to all who have participated so far!
Have a great weekend!

More Exchanges and this weeks drawing!

Look at the wonderful package I received from Carol for the HOE Prairie Schooler Exchange!!! I love the mattress pin cushion she stitched for me! It is a freebie design that I have stitched a couple of time because I like it so much, but still hadn't stitched it for myself. I love it, and now I might try making a mattress pin cushion since I have a great example to follow! I think that lovely piece of silkweaver fabric is calling for a Haunted House design. Love it!

My appologies to Susan for not having posted this sooner. This is the adorable LK ornament exchange I received over a week ago. I am going to have such a nice tree this year with all my F&S exchange squares and all the other exchange pieces I have received. I just need to get into gear and do the finishing on some.

Don't forget to post to last weeks (Friday's) Halloween post to be entered into the drawing, which will be held tonight. I will post the winner tomorrow!!!
Have a great day!

Received, received, received!

Here are some exchange updates. I received a couple packages just before I left and now I can share photos! Above is the beautiful ornament I received in a friendship exchange with Dawn. Below is a photo of what I sent to her. I am really pleased with our exchange and hope to try more friendship exchanges with other stitchers as soon as I get caught up with what I am committed to right now. So, maybe after the holidays I will ask and see who is interested =)


These are the squares I received from Jen for Fair & Square round 9. I really need to get on the ball and finish hers. She also sent me a sheet of information about the Mien Sampler she got he pattern from. It was designed by Eva Walters and is from the "Travelers Tales Collection".

Here are my Halloween squares from Lisa. This is really cool because I am so in the mood for Halloween! She even sent me a spooky letter along with the squares, which is really cool! There is something really funny I will have to share about these squares later, after I send hers and she has received them ;)

Have a great day!

"Back to School, Back to Basics"

That was the theme of the retreat! All of our goodies and the optional project fit right along with this theme too, as you can see from these photos. The first thing we received was a brown bag lunch with apple bread (made by our very talented president) and chips, caramel sauce, and the pumpkin pin cushion. Then throughout the retreat there were little present left at our seats and I think everything is shown in the photo above.

The optional project was an apple needle book and scissor case. That was such fun to make! On Saturday morning we received a kit with all of the supplies needed to make it and were promised a surprise when we finished. As each person finished, they were taken aside and given the surprise which was the scissors for the case. Neat! We had a choice of red or green and I chose green.

Here is a photo of the inside. On the top piece is the flower with the needle threader attached and the threader is slipped into the square pocket below. I attached the fob from our goodies to my scissors. And you can see that inside the little apple shaped needle book is the gold needle that was also included in the kit. Everyone who made the project finished and received their scissors!

The retreat was held at Ross Point which is a beautiful area. I completely forgot to take photos so I am buying a disc from one of the ladies who was there and then I will be able to post more photos. It was loads of fun and I can hardly wait for next years retreat!!!
Have a great day!

Spooky Drawing & Another Giveaway!

I put all the names into my cauldron and Lyn W is the lucky winner. Lyn, please go to my profile and send me an email with your address so I can get your prize into the mail when I get back from the retreat!!!

Do you like things with beady eyes? Well, then this next drawing is for you! I have the two Mill Hill kits shown above to give away. The drawing will be Thursday night during the witching hour, and will be posted on Friday. Be sure to leave me a post and this time I would like to know why you love or hate to stitch on Aida cloth. I just started stitching a spooky project on Aida and am really enjoying it! I feel like I am getting back to my stitching roots. I think we must have all started our stitching adventure with Aida cloth, right?

Okay, I really have to go. My stitching is packed, snacks are packed, clothes - NO! And, I think I do need clothes. Must go throw pants into the dryer and get my car loaded. I am so excited. A fabric order just arrive moments ago from Enchanted Fabrics and they are awesome! I will post photos when I get back Sunday.

Have a great weekend! Don't forget to post a comment to be entered into the drawing =)

It's time to get your SPOOKY on!

As you can see, I have been doing a little shopping. I have loads of ideas for goodies to make, and have gathered all of my Halloween patterns, ordered fabrics, pulled threads from my stash and purchased a couple of really neat ones to add to my collection. This is the first year that I have really been bitten by the Halloween bug. I have my feather tree out and want to fill it with ornaments so I need to get busy stitching. I think the colors are so much fun and there are lots of great patterns available for spooky stitching!

What's this? Peter piper picked a peck of pickled pumpkins????? As you can see, I have two. One for me, and one for whoooooooo? You? Maybe. Leave a comment on THIS post and tell me what you are stitching for Halloween. I will draw a name and announce a winner next Friday before I leave for the weekend retreat I am going on. The lucky winner will receive the pattern, a piece of the 10 count Sweet Potato Heatherfield fabric, and the two skeins of DMC size 5 perle cotton required to stitch this Halloween quicky! And maybe I will even post another giveaway...... That is, if I don't scare everyone away with this one!

Have a great day!

PS Small Santa Exchange

Here is the Santa I stitched for my partner in the PS yahoo group small Santa exchange. I finished it into a pin keep although it is a bit difficult to see the pins in the photo. It is one of the free charts that I had wanted to stitch for a while.

Stay tuned for another post....

An Award!

A very big "Thank You" to Lynda and Dawn who gave me this award! I feel REALLY special having received it from two fellow stitchers and it really made my day!
Now, I hate to be a party pooper and not pass it on, but I wouldn't know where to start because I love all of the blogs I read. I have even stopped adding to the sidebar because I discovered google reader and have been adding them there. It is so much easier to keep up with the new posts and I highly recommend it if you don't already use it.
Perhaps I could encourage you to leave a comment on all of the blogs you read, letting the person know that you love to read their blog. I know I am always thrilled when I have some comments to read =)
Have a great day!

Stitching by the light of the moon...

Can often lead to ripping by the light of day. I have the pattern and the stitching in the above photo. Can you see where I went wrong? I guess I was thinking I would just get that border stitched and just fill in with the design - what a quickie... It sure would have helped to take a good look at the pattern and maybe I would have noticed that the border wasn't a solid stitch? My first thought was to just pitch it and start again, but because of the price of gas (that is what we blame everything on right now, isn't it? LOL!) I ripped it out and have stitched it correctly. Hopefully I will have a photo of the stitched piece to post tomorrow.

Here is the adorable Santa floss tag I received from April from the Prairie Schooler Small Santa exchange. I love it! Thanks April. I need to do the finishing on yours so I can get it into the mail.
Have a great day!

My latest projects

This is Night Owl from the latest issue of Just Cross Stitch. I stitched it on a hand-dyed lugana from my stash and used GAST Butternut Squash, WDW Sweet Potato, and GAST Ltd Edition Witches Brew. I love how the black has the blue in it. It makes be think of a cold foggy evening. I have not decided how I will finish it yet. I'm thinking maybe a pin keep. I bought the RIT dye in black and orange and some pins to dye. I hope to try that later this week when it is cooler.

Here is my Christmas hat and scarf I knit about two weeks ago when it was much cooler. Can you tell I am ready for Fall and Winter? I am just not a fan of the hot weather.
Here is the needlepoint project we started Saturday at the SFNG (Spokane Falls Needlework Guild) meeting. It will be a frame weight. The background is the brown but will be stitched over with the watercolors. I haven't decided if I like needlepoint yet but I am very glad that I get to try it. I love trying new things because you can always learn something!!! We have until the next quarterly meeting, which is in November, to finish the stitching so we can learn how to put it together.
I'm afraid I can't show you the rest of what I have been stitching because they are for exchanges. I can say that there are three Christmas projects I need to do the finishing on. When it gets cooler later in the week.
Have a great day!

Some like it hot........I DO NOT!!!

Here is a long overdue photo of the latest Fair & Square Exchange. The squares above are from Dani and below is what I stitched for her.


We've had too many hot days in a row here. Yesterday it was 103* which is the hottest day in ten years. It was made even more special for me by the fact that my fridge was dead when I woke up. Had to throw everything out, but at least they brought me a new one. By the way, new in the military doesn't mean "brand new", it means "another one", which is fine because it is newer than the one I had and pretty nice too. Especially since this little incident didn't cost us anything. The very nice man who brought it also noticed that there is a huge wasp nest over the doorway so the exterminator is coming tomorrow to take care of that. I guess I didn't notice it because if I was looking up that far as I walked up the stairs, I would probably trip and fall. He is much taller than I and he looked up to make sure he didn't hit it with the fridge. I am so glad we live on base and they take care of stuff like that for us!!!

I am having a tough time uploading all of my photos so I am going to start another post and see what happens.
Have a great day!

Summer Quaker & Update

Above is a photo of what I sent to Becky. It was my first tin finish and now that I know they aren't as difficult as I thought, I will definitely be making more of these! Her photos look better than mine so I will refer you to her blog to see the inside of the tin and the matching fob. This really was a fun stitch. The pattern is Quaker Flowers by Samplers & Such. Instead of using the Altoids tin, I used the Hershey tin with the purple lid. It matched the stitching perfectly. Now that I see you can also put magnet in the lid, I will try to do that next time. Just have to figure out how, so if anyone who is reading knows and can tell me, that would be great!

Here is the exchange I received from Margaret C. She stitched a beautiful biscornu for me in the prettiest Dinky Dyes silk, coral seas. She also sent along a very generous package of goodies. I am truly overwhelmed at her generosity. Two charts from my wish list, a huge piece of Lakeside Linen in a gorgeous pink color called Chantilly Cream, and some really pretty buttons, floss holders, and a handmade card! I used to make all my cards but it has been a while since that craft has seen the light of day, lol!

I received an exciting phone call the other day. A spot opened up for me to attend a stitching retreat next month. I am so excited I can hardly wait to go! It is one where you just bring what you want to work on and spend the weekend in a beautiful place with other stitchers and just have a great time. Sounds like heaven =) I have been collecting lots of ornament patterns, fabrics and threads so that may be what I take with me. There are so many I want to stitch and I am really in the mood to stitch Fall and Christmas projects right now. As soon as I finish this post I plan to stitch the Prairie Schooler Halloween ornament from the latest issue of Just Cross Stitch. I picked out the fabric and threads last night! My order with all their new charts arrived on Tuesday so I am wishing again that I could stitch 24/7!!! Don't we all?

I have some other things to show you but I decided that instead of posting it all at one time, I would try to post more frequently. I received my Fair & Square round 8 but will wait until Danica has received her squares from me to post about those. I have a couple of other finishes I will be sharing in the near future too so keep checking in to see what's new!
Have a great day!

Birthday Stitching

Here is a photo of the Tulip & Star Pinkeep I stitched for my dear friend Kim. I should have taken a better photo so you could see what a lovely job the finisher did. She used the most beautiful burgundy fabric for the outside.
Here are two biscornus I stitched last week. The one on the left was a birthday gift for my friend Barbara and I stitched the one on the right for myself. The pattern is the Debbie Drapper designs called, Love. It was a very quick stitch and I really love to put these little guys together! See, I can do the simpler things but it's the really detailed finishing I have trouble with. I gave my needlebook to the finisher on Wednesday. I don't know when she will have it ready for me, but I do know that it will look spectacular when it is done and the fact that I can just stitch like crazy now will be worth every penny when I get the bill. This Fall she is teaching classes for eight different finishes and I am really looking forward to that! I already know how to do a couple of the techniques but I think you can always learn something so I will most likely take all of the classes. Now I had better get back to stitching since I have three exchanges that need to go out fairly soon. Have a great day!