Need to get off the computer...

...it's just too dangerous for me! I got an email from Ink Circles today with updates and a great freebie! And of course I printed that out and it eventually lead to their blog... Some absolutely amazing finishes there! Definitely need to do some of their stuff. Of course, I don't have the time, nor the money, but I have the need! What oh what do I do?!?! Looking for suggestions for a must do Ink Circles to start with. Anyone? In the meantime, I need to stop screwing around on the computer and get to stitching!

Is it Wednesday Already?!

Time has been flying by and yet today is going SO SLOW! I'm just glad it's Wednesday and one day closer to my day off! I did almost forget to post today. The doc had me increase my dosage on a new medication for me that's supposed to help prevent my migraines and it's just kicking my butt. Maybe it's because I was out til 10:30 last night with my neighbors and didn't actually get to sleep until midnight, but I'm having one heck of a time staying awake today! I even caught myself taking a cat nap at the shop. Oops.

Anyways, here are my updates for the week!

As you know, I finished Quaker Samplings I by With My Needle a little while ago. Well, the frame came in yesterday and it's now framed! I'm so proud of this piece.



As far as the WIPs are concerned, I can't say I got a WHOLE lot done, but I did make some progress on both For This Child by My Big Toe and Faery Tales by HAED.





AND I did at least get started on my piece for the Blackbird Designs Exchange. I'm stitching A Gift for My Friend.




I'm still thinking of and praying for my family up in Wisconsin and wishing I could be there with all my heart. A big thank you goes out to those of you who have had them in your prayers as well.

Happy Stitching!

Prayers Needed for My Family in Wisconsin

Hey all. I just found out today that my cousin's wife's family decided yesterday to take her father off of life support and he passed away yesterday afternoon. She just lost her brother-in-law just before Easter due to a drunk driver, so her and her family are having a really hard time right now.

I also found out that another cousin's house burned down last night. It started to the unattached garage and jumped to the house. The walls are still standing, but insurance says it's a total loss. And there was a nice tractor, a car, and a classic Harley in the garage. I know the pain they are going through as I lost everything a while ago due to a fire as well. We didn't lose the house, but my room and closet and attic were a total loss (I was in 7th grade).

Anyways, they are in dire need of prayers and I would appreciate any you can send their way.

Thanks.

Giveaways and Exchanges

There's lots of giveaways going on in blogland right now! Check out Jennifer's blog for her giveaway for her blogiversary! Congratulations on one year of blogging Jennifer!! I hope to have a giveaway sometime soon myself, so keep posted! Gotta figure out what I want to giveaway first and for what occasion. Any suggestions?

Also, thanks to Jennifer, I have found the Blackbird Designs Exchange Blog! I've signed up and already got my partners name. So excited! I'll post updates of the project I'm doing since I'm pretty sure she won't figure out who I am by that alone. Then I'll tell you more about her and link to her blog once the piece is received. I've done a lot of exchanges over at Crochetville and loved every one of them. There was a time or two when I didn't receive from the person who had my name, but I enjoyed every minute I spent on the people I had. I've even made some really good friends through that! So, when I found out about this one, I just had to join. It's my first cross stitch exchange, and it's not working like the secret pals and stuff at Crochetville, but that's ok! I think it's going to be lots of fun anyways. Stay tuned tomorrow for my WIP updates - I'll have my exchange piece in there. :)

One more thing - I need some help/ideas. I have a few customers here at my store that I would like to do something special for. They have done a lot lately to help the store get off the ground and they are doing everything they can to promote it (even though they all live more then 30 minutes away with at least 2 stores between them and me). The thing is, I don't have much money to spend, nor much time.... Any suggestions on something I can do for them? It would be greatly appreciated and I thank you very much.

Happy stitching!

Blackbird Designs

Just found out that there is a Blackbird Designs stitch exchange! Signup ends on June 12 and you have until August 12 to stitch and finish one of their designs to send off to someone else. It's a great way to meet and get to know new people. I just signed up - who wants to join me?!?! You can find more info here. Can't wait to find out who my partner is! I have a couple of designs in mind already. :)

WIP Wednesday and a Finish!

Well, I finished Quaker Samplings I on Saturday and just got around to taking a picture of it. But you're gonna have to wait until the end of the post to see the picture!

I've been working on For This Child by My Big Toe since I finished the Quaker. This one is a birth sampler commissioned by my dad for his ex-admin assistant (he retired) who is a new Grandma! I know she doesn't read my blog, but congratulations nonetheless! I'm happy with my progress seeing how I've now had stress headaches/migraines for the past 15 days. This is not exactly an easy chart, but I still love it! And when I'm done, I get to start another commissioned birth sampler for my dad's ex-IT guy. Woohoo! Anyways, here's the pic!



And of course, my HAED Faery Tales. Didn't have a whole lot of time to work on it this week, but, believe it or not, there is SOME progress. So hard to tell when working on 28 ct fabric over 2... Almost done with the first 10 rows though! And the pic...



Next is what you all have been waiting for! My finished Quaker Samplings I by With My Needle. It was stitched on 32 ct Light Examplar by Lakeside Linens with Currant by Gentle Arts. SO happy with the way it turned out! The frame corner in the picture is the sample of the frame I ordered for it. I personally think it's perfect. :)



So sorry that I haven't been posting much lately, but these headaches are really taking their toll on me. I actually had to skip body pump this morning because it felt like my head was going to explode. Very sad that I had to skip. I really love my class! Not to mention that I'm feeling results - clothes that were tight are actually fitting perfectly now!

Kyle came home from Cali last night. So happy to have him home. It was getting lonely without him! Of course, it was nice to be able to go to bed and put my feet up early and nurse my headaches without feeling guilty, but I think I would rather have the guilt then not have him home. He had a great time while there, and I know it was hard for him to leave his family again. As much as I would love to share in everyone's hatred for their in-laws, I just can't. They are a really great family and I love them dearly. I've really lucked out.

So, that all being said, it's time to get those pics uploaded and over to my other blog to post them as well.

Happy Stitching to all!

WIP Wednesday

It't that time again! Time to share the progress of my WIPs... Quaker Samplings I is coming along nicely. Hoping to finish this week so I can get a couple of commissioned birth announcements done and then dedicate more time to my HAED SAL. What do you think?




The SAL for HAED's Faery Tales officially started yesterday! I'm so exited! I started a little early because as of right now I can only commit about an hour a night to it until I get other things done. It's being stitched on 28 ct fabric over 1, and there's a lot more work done on it then it looks like! This thing is going to take FOREVER! Thinking it will maybe be done in 5 years... lol



That's it for this weeks progress! Now back to work on that quaker so I can finish it!

Happy stitching to all!