OK, so it's two weeks from now, BUTTTTT . . . I've been very good the last few months, and all my bills are paid, soooo I decided to do a little birthday shopping for myself this week. I'm so bad, I know. But it was sooo worth it.
I went a little crazy at 123. Ordered Witch Hollow, by the Primitive Needle. I know people are saying that it takes A LOT of specialty thread, but, if there is one thing I have a lot of, much to HTB's chagrin, it's specialty thread. So I decided I'll kit it up out of my stash, and what's left over shouldn't be a heinous expense, right? And I saw BBD Midnight Watch on a few blogs, and fell in love with that--my fetish for black cats rears its head. So that came in my cart along with Pumpkins for Sale, the one Vonna did the beautiful finishing for, and a couple other small charts. I totally blame the twins for this expense. They told me I was a good mummy, especially since I figured out Chancey is a much happier dog when she gets to go for a walk. How did this happen . . . my fiance loves to exercise, my dog loves to exercise and I like to not exercise. Ey yiy. Anywat, since I am so fantastic, and I bring them cookies, they said I could treat myself. They're such good dogs.
And then, when I opened my blog today, there was an intriguing blog entry from Sampler Girl. All day today, a lot of her charts are just . . .$5.00. I have been drooling over several of her charts for a very long time. The Mary Lincoln Sampler, one about hope, and her new Seaside Memories, which I love. To buy them for $5 each was too tempting to pass up. That's three charts for just a little more than 1 chart regular priced. Head over to her website and see what tempts you!
23 October 2009
22 October 2009
So I had an idea
Halloween is on a Saturday this year. I took the day off that day to take a punchneedle class at my LNS, but now that I know how much wedding stuff costs, and I realize I won't have time in the next year to become proficient at a new craft, I couldn't see spending the money on the class.
So that leaves me with a whole day to myself and nothing to do. And several Halloween UFOs and WIPs.
So I was thinking, why not spend the whole day stitching a Halloween project? I could make good progress in one day, right?
And then it morphed into maybe having a one-day Halloween SAL. I posted the basic idea on 123Stitch. Anyone that wanted to participate would, on the morning of the 31st, post a photo of either the fall or Halloween-themed project they want to work on that day, or what they want to work on. Then, at 9PM their time, post a photo of where they got to during the day. A couple people are interested.
And then I thought, bloggers might like to do that too.
So, this is my idea.
Choose a fall or Halloween-themed project you want to work on on October 31st. Post a photo on your blog in the morning. Stitch as much as you can all that day, even if you spend part of it handing out treats to kids (I'll be outside on our porch myself, since our doorbell doesn't work, and we have the wailing pitbull chorus in the garage on that evening). Then, at 9PM your time, post about how far you got. Maybe you'll finish. Maybe not. But, how often do we get to enjoy a whole day of holiday stitching?
Let me know if you would like to participate. It's nothing formal, I swear!
So that leaves me with a whole day to myself and nothing to do. And several Halloween UFOs and WIPs.
So I was thinking, why not spend the whole day stitching a Halloween project? I could make good progress in one day, right?
And then it morphed into maybe having a one-day Halloween SAL. I posted the basic idea on 123Stitch. Anyone that wanted to participate would, on the morning of the 31st, post a photo of either the fall or Halloween-themed project they want to work on that day, or what they want to work on. Then, at 9PM their time, post a photo of where they got to during the day. A couple people are interested.
And then I thought, bloggers might like to do that too.
So, this is my idea.
Choose a fall or Halloween-themed project you want to work on on October 31st. Post a photo on your blog in the morning. Stitch as much as you can all that day, even if you spend part of it handing out treats to kids (I'll be outside on our porch myself, since our doorbell doesn't work, and we have the wailing pitbull chorus in the garage on that evening). Then, at 9PM your time, post about how far you got. Maybe you'll finish. Maybe not. But, how often do we get to enjoy a whole day of holiday stitching?
Let me know if you would like to participate. It's nothing formal, I swear!
20 October 2009
Exchange finish and WIP
If I wasn't reasonably certain my partners don't read my blog, I wouldn't post these, but I am pretty sure they don't, sooooo thought I would share.
This is my finished Sanman board Hallofall exchange piece. It's LK Treats from the Boo Club. On perforated paper, backed with scrapbooking paper. Not too inventive, but I think it's pretty. I've discovered that spray adhesive works REALLY well to attach paper to these. I sent it to my partner with a trick or treat bag and some little goodies. I hope she likes it.
And my WIP for Dalene on 123. It's from Santa and Friends by Prairie Schooler, on 28 count Lugana that I had at Mom's. I had been going back and forth about this, remember, but someone on 123 stitched these for soldiers and I thought they were so cute. I thought I recognized the chart and started looking through the big binders and I had it, so this was the one I chose. I am having fun stitching it for her, and will stitch all of them for myself too. Eventually . . . I hope she likes it!
This is my finished Sanman board Hallofall exchange piece. It's LK Treats from the Boo Club. On perforated paper, backed with scrapbooking paper. Not too inventive, but I think it's pretty. I've discovered that spray adhesive works REALLY well to attach paper to these. I sent it to my partner with a trick or treat bag and some little goodies. I hope she likes it.
And my WIP for Dalene on 123. It's from Santa and Friends by Prairie Schooler, on 28 count Lugana that I had at Mom's. I had been going back and forth about this, remember, but someone on 123 stitched these for soldiers and I thought they were so cute. I thought I recognized the chart and started looking through the big binders and I had it, so this was the one I chose. I am having fun stitching it for her, and will stitch all of them for myself too. Eventually . . . I hope she likes it!
19 October 2009
A kitty story
We're in process of cleaning out my gramma's/mother's basement. It's a bit packed. I still have things there, my brother does, and we have my grandmother's things and now my mom's stuff.
On Friday I went over to start removing my stuff.
My Gussiecat has recently decided that my brother's former bedroom is his. He is technically, by dint of he's been there the longest, the man of the house. However, he can't go in the livingroom, because of the twins--they are doggies, they move quickly and they are loud, and he finds this to be upsetting, particularly if they attempt to lick him. Dogs are repulsive to him. He sometimes stays with my father, he loves to be in my former bedroom, and the bathroom sometimes works, especially in the summer, because there's an old cast-iron tub.
But he's decided that the basement bedroom is his--totally doggie-free, since Robbie hasn't mastered steps, and Chancey just don't like it down there. He has a couch, the couch is his.
I went over on Friday at lunch and my mom was down, gathering stuff up to give away. Gus was in his room, on his couch, surrounded by boxes. He was NOT happy. He told me, in no uncertain terms, was this acceptable. He voiced his fears he would be evicted from his beloved couch. He stretched out to show me he requires a lot of space to conduct the business of being a tabbycat. And those boxes were not helping him be content.
I told my mother not to put boxes on that couch. Because he needs space. And he will break things if they're in his way. Usually on accident--he has a flaccid tail which does not function--but sometimes I can see in his eyes, he means it.
My mother mumbled about how the cats don't make the rules in the house.
She's done this before.
The first time was the battle of "Why we don't bring flowers, live or silk, in the house." Felix won that one. Sucker chews anything with a petal. He's cute, but he's dumb.
The second time was the battle of, "We don't bring things that have feathers on them in the house, we don't draw attention to it if we forget not to bring them, and we certainly don't hang them on the Christmas tree where the cats can smell them, see them, sense them." There were casualties of that fight. Namely, vintage glass balls . . . it was bloody . . . because I stepped on one of them in my bare feet. Score one for the felines.
These battles never end in our favor. If they do, they are hard won.
I've known Mom for almost 33 years. I know she thinks someday these cats will act like decent cuddly creatures.
I've known Gus for 10, he is who he is. He wants things how he wants them. And they will be his.
So I was happy when I didn't get the phone call detailing what 'your cat' did. I guess she took me seriously, assessed the potential victims of a box on the sofa--half of the ever-dwindling ornament stash--and left him alone on his sofa happily.
Saturday when I went over, he was sitting in the bathtub, wailing. It was as if his whole little world had been torn up and he was in his refuge of last resort. Which shows he is pretty smart--neither of the twins is too heavily into batheing, so they weren't bothering him in the tub.
And then he came downstairs to make sure we didn't annex his couch again.
But, in retribution for the affront of the day before, he spent 7 hours "assisting" us in the organizing. By assisting, I mean getting in the way, getting in essentially every place we were trying to put things to get them out of the way, yowling indignantly like we had hidden his toys, and, then after we swept the floor, he indulged in one of his favorite hobbies, the litter kick for distance.
Bless his little barn cat heart. I love that cat.
On Friday I went over to start removing my stuff.
My Gussiecat has recently decided that my brother's former bedroom is his. He is technically, by dint of he's been there the longest, the man of the house. However, he can't go in the livingroom, because of the twins--they are doggies, they move quickly and they are loud, and he finds this to be upsetting, particularly if they attempt to lick him. Dogs are repulsive to him. He sometimes stays with my father, he loves to be in my former bedroom, and the bathroom sometimes works, especially in the summer, because there's an old cast-iron tub.
But he's decided that the basement bedroom is his--totally doggie-free, since Robbie hasn't mastered steps, and Chancey just don't like it down there. He has a couch, the couch is his.
I went over on Friday at lunch and my mom was down, gathering stuff up to give away. Gus was in his room, on his couch, surrounded by boxes. He was NOT happy. He told me, in no uncertain terms, was this acceptable. He voiced his fears he would be evicted from his beloved couch. He stretched out to show me he requires a lot of space to conduct the business of being a tabbycat. And those boxes were not helping him be content.
I told my mother not to put boxes on that couch. Because he needs space. And he will break things if they're in his way. Usually on accident--he has a flaccid tail which does not function--but sometimes I can see in his eyes, he means it.
My mother mumbled about how the cats don't make the rules in the house.
She's done this before.
The first time was the battle of "Why we don't bring flowers, live or silk, in the house." Felix won that one. Sucker chews anything with a petal. He's cute, but he's dumb.
The second time was the battle of, "We don't bring things that have feathers on them in the house, we don't draw attention to it if we forget not to bring them, and we certainly don't hang them on the Christmas tree where the cats can smell them, see them, sense them." There were casualties of that fight. Namely, vintage glass balls . . . it was bloody . . . because I stepped on one of them in my bare feet. Score one for the felines.
These battles never end in our favor. If they do, they are hard won.
I've known Mom for almost 33 years. I know she thinks someday these cats will act like decent cuddly creatures.
I've known Gus for 10, he is who he is. He wants things how he wants them. And they will be his.
So I was happy when I didn't get the phone call detailing what 'your cat' did. I guess she took me seriously, assessed the potential victims of a box on the sofa--half of the ever-dwindling ornament stash--and left him alone on his sofa happily.
Saturday when I went over, he was sitting in the bathtub, wailing. It was as if his whole little world had been torn up and he was in his refuge of last resort. Which shows he is pretty smart--neither of the twins is too heavily into batheing, so they weren't bothering him in the tub.
And then he came downstairs to make sure we didn't annex his couch again.
But, in retribution for the affront of the day before, he spent 7 hours "assisting" us in the organizing. By assisting, I mean getting in the way, getting in essentially every place we were trying to put things to get them out of the way, yowling indignantly like we had hidden his toys, and, then after we swept the floor, he indulged in one of his favorite hobbies, the litter kick for distance.
Bless his little barn cat heart. I love that cat.
15 October 2009
He's a keeper, yes, indeed
A long time ago, I joined the Brides Tree SAL. I have been a slacker, though. Mostly because I knew no brides, didn't know if we were really ever going to get married and got caught up in other things. Well, now, all that's changed. I've decided to get my butt in gear and get my ornaments stitched. I should have enough freebies and charts in my stash to make this possible, right? Right.
So, anyway, last night I came home after church in a tizzy. Not about church, that was pretty centering--plus my priest definitely said he'd marry us, woo hoo!--but I was on a quest for a pinecone chart. Because one of the months is for a pinecone, and I wasn't sure I had a pinecone chart in my stash.
It's a funny thing to think about what people don't chart. Pinecones, for example. You would think this would not be a difficult thing to chart, right? It's an oval if you have a primitive pattern, a few splotches of thread on a sampler? No biggiem you would think. Surprise, they're hard to find. I know this because I searched 3 binders of Christmas charts, all but one issue of JCS Christmas Ornament issue--the one I used to stitch the Santa from the fair, it's missing, this is bad--and found 2 ornaments. One of which was from 1999 and the pinecone was a button.
And the funny thing was, I hauled my stuff into the bedroom, with a panicked look on my face. HTB was in bed, watching New Jack City, and trying to figure out who the bands were that were performing onscreen (we knew it wasn't BellBivDevoe, but other than that, we were lost, there were a lot of one hit wonders in the early 90s). He asked me what I was doing with all those charts at that hour of the night. And, when I said, in my most imperious voice, "I need a chart with a pinecone! And I need it NOW," he said, "OK." He's a smart man, that fiance of mine. He no longer tries to understand me, he knows there are forces at work that he can't fight, LOL.
I've taken a break from my large projects for the week. I have an ornament that is due today for a Halloween ornament exchange that is not finished yet. I can get it done by Saturday and priority mail it and that should be OK. It's not ideal, but I'd rather have a nice thing to send her a few days late than have a yucky thing sent on time. I also have to work on a Christmas ornament for another exchange, but I know finally what I'm doing. I figure a couple days off isn't a problem.
So, anyway, last night I came home after church in a tizzy. Not about church, that was pretty centering--plus my priest definitely said he'd marry us, woo hoo!--but I was on a quest for a pinecone chart. Because one of the months is for a pinecone, and I wasn't sure I had a pinecone chart in my stash.
It's a funny thing to think about what people don't chart. Pinecones, for example. You would think this would not be a difficult thing to chart, right? It's an oval if you have a primitive pattern, a few splotches of thread on a sampler? No biggiem you would think. Surprise, they're hard to find. I know this because I searched 3 binders of Christmas charts, all but one issue of JCS Christmas Ornament issue--the one I used to stitch the Santa from the fair, it's missing, this is bad--and found 2 ornaments. One of which was from 1999 and the pinecone was a button.
And the funny thing was, I hauled my stuff into the bedroom, with a panicked look on my face. HTB was in bed, watching New Jack City, and trying to figure out who the bands were that were performing onscreen (we knew it wasn't BellBivDevoe, but other than that, we were lost, there were a lot of one hit wonders in the early 90s). He asked me what I was doing with all those charts at that hour of the night. And, when I said, in my most imperious voice, "I need a chart with a pinecone! And I need it NOW," he said, "OK." He's a smart man, that fiance of mine. He no longer tries to understand me, he knows there are forces at work that he can't fight, LOL.
I've taken a break from my large projects for the week. I have an ornament that is due today for a Halloween ornament exchange that is not finished yet. I can get it done by Saturday and priority mail it and that should be OK. It's not ideal, but I'd rather have a nice thing to send her a few days late than have a yucky thing sent on time. I also have to work on a Christmas ornament for another exchange, but I know finally what I'm doing. I figure a couple days off isn't a problem.
12 October 2009
Photo updates
The finished Square 4 of the Hummingbird Trellis afghan.
My Summer Ball. It doesn't seem to be going so fast, does it?
My Summer Ball. It doesn't seem to be going so fast, does it?
Random thoughts for a Monday
I'm probably a freak for doing this, but I got to thinking about just how much time it actually takes to stitch something. I think maybe because I'm doing two very detailed projects that don't seem to be moving too fast, but it takes me FOREVER to do anything.
I have The Summer Ball as my traveling project. I took it to work yesterday to work on when we weren't busy. I didn't get too far on that one, either, but I do see some progress. I got a lot done on the main dancing girl's skirt, so that was good. I am trying very hard to keep myself from getting intimidated by the size of this project, as well as the afghan size, but there are moments where, comparing what I've finished with what I haven't stitched, it's daunting. I mean, it's taken 3 years to get 4 squares done on this afghan. Even just to do the little bit that I did on this last square took a month. I know there's no race to get things done, but I don't want to take 30 years to get an afghan finished. Or 10 to get The Summer Ball done. Do your projects ever do that to you?
I finally finished Square 4 of Hummingbird Trellis afghan Saturday night. We watched An American Haunting, which, despite the reviews, I liked. I'm all for a good ghost story, and this one was based on true events. It's based on the Bell Witch legend of Tennessee, but it doesn't exactly follow the story, so if you're familiar with that and expecting a documentary, this ain't a movie you want to watch. But it's more real than, say, Wolf Creek, which was the most disturbing moving I've ever seen, and which bothered me immensely because I didn't know how "based on a true story" it was, and all that's real was that someone was killing people in Australia. This is a little closer. Not really gory though. Scary, and there were a couple oogey moments--I don't know about you, but I find the sound of nails on floorboards to be absolutely NASTY--but I wasn't upset and I was able to stitch. I finished that square and started a new one, Square 8, but didn't get too far. Not even a square inch. It's constant stop and start, stop and start. And this one has a lot of stitching down at the bottom. I am hoping to have it finished by December 1st. I think that's a decent goal.
While I was working on The Summer Ball yesterday, one of our patrons came up to the window and asked about it. I divide patron responses to my stitching in three categories: the ones who ask if I'm knitting, the ones who know it's not knitting, but aren't exactly sure what it is, and the stitchers. There are a lot of people who used to do needlework, but don't anymore, but if I use specialty threads or non-Aida, it throws them off, and most people are in the might-be knitting category, but this lady knew the right terminology, so I could tell she was a stitcher. And she loved the piece. She said she doesn't do much, but she loves it. It's always nice to meet a stitcher around here; we're a rare breed, since everyone around here seems to have no time for a hobby. We had a lovely chat.
I have The Summer Ball as my traveling project. I took it to work yesterday to work on when we weren't busy. I didn't get too far on that one, either, but I do see some progress. I got a lot done on the main dancing girl's skirt, so that was good. I am trying very hard to keep myself from getting intimidated by the size of this project, as well as the afghan size, but there are moments where, comparing what I've finished with what I haven't stitched, it's daunting. I mean, it's taken 3 years to get 4 squares done on this afghan. Even just to do the little bit that I did on this last square took a month. I know there's no race to get things done, but I don't want to take 30 years to get an afghan finished. Or 10 to get The Summer Ball done. Do your projects ever do that to you?
I finally finished Square 4 of Hummingbird Trellis afghan Saturday night. We watched An American Haunting, which, despite the reviews, I liked. I'm all for a good ghost story, and this one was based on true events. It's based on the Bell Witch legend of Tennessee, but it doesn't exactly follow the story, so if you're familiar with that and expecting a documentary, this ain't a movie you want to watch. But it's more real than, say, Wolf Creek, which was the most disturbing moving I've ever seen, and which bothered me immensely because I didn't know how "based on a true story" it was, and all that's real was that someone was killing people in Australia. This is a little closer. Not really gory though. Scary, and there were a couple oogey moments--I don't know about you, but I find the sound of nails on floorboards to be absolutely NASTY--but I wasn't upset and I was able to stitch. I finished that square and started a new one, Square 8, but didn't get too far. Not even a square inch. It's constant stop and start, stop and start. And this one has a lot of stitching down at the bottom. I am hoping to have it finished by December 1st. I think that's a decent goal.
While I was working on The Summer Ball yesterday, one of our patrons came up to the window and asked about it. I divide patron responses to my stitching in three categories: the ones who ask if I'm knitting, the ones who know it's not knitting, but aren't exactly sure what it is, and the stitchers. There are a lot of people who used to do needlework, but don't anymore, but if I use specialty threads or non-Aida, it throws them off, and most people are in the might-be knitting category, but this lady knew the right terminology, so I could tell she was a stitcher. And she loved the piece. She said she doesn't do much, but she loves it. It's always nice to meet a stitcher around here; we're a rare breed, since everyone around here seems to have no time for a hobby. We had a lovely chat.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)