Ribbit, ribbit....

About an hours worth of stitching coming out because I can't count! Ugh. Oh, and did I mention that I'm working with a red overdyed thread that is turning my material and bone needle pink? Yikes! Is it time to go home yet?

WIP Wednesday

As promised, today won't be image heavy! Been working on Quaker Samplings I and only on Quaker Samplings I. Very happy with the way it's turning out! Having lots of fun stitching it, and can't wait til it's done.

Must Be Crazy

What in the heck have I gotten myself into this time?!!?!? Been cruising the message boards and found a post for a SAL for Heaven and Earth Designs (HAED) "Faery Tales". Having never heard of this particular chart, I decided to take a look. I fell in love! So, of course I joined! The SAL starts June 1st. I have the chart on order, and an idea of fabric already. The chart should be here by Friday. My only problem is finding the time to do it!!! I have SO much to do the way it is, and I need to get more models done for the store because models sell charts! Anyone want to donate some models? :)

Anyways, here's a picture of what I'll be doing. Maybe I can dedicate one day a week to it... Wish me luck!

WIP Wednesday

So, DH gave me a hard time in the store's forums a little while ago about all my WIPs. I therefore took pictures of all the WIPs I had here with me at the store and followed up by posting them in the forums. However, I realized that some of you may be interested in seeing them as well, and not frequent the forums, so I figured I'd do a WIP Wednesday. I'll post pictures of all WIPs I have right now, and then each Wednesday I'll post any progress pics I have. :)

So, first off is "For This Child" by My Big Toe. This is actually a commissioned project for my father's ex-admin assistant who is now a grandma! Congratulations Tracey!



I am using Gentle Arts black raspberry jam and old red paint on 32 copper penny linen.

#2 is "Peppermint Twist" by Blue Ribbon Designs. I have decided that I REALLY like this designer! I'm doing this as a Christmas SAL with Yoyo and a bunch of others! I'm using the called for Weeks Dye Works colors on 36 ct flax. Very happy with how it's turning out so far!



OK, so the next two might be considered UFOs at this point as for various reasons I haven't picked them up for a while. I still wanted to share them, though, so when I do get the chance to work on them again we'll be able to see the progress!

That being said, #3 is "Caring Wings" by Mirabilia. Basically she got put down in order to get things done for Christmas last year and hasn't been picked up again because there's always something that HAS to be done first! I'm using the called for threads, but for the life of me can't remember what material I'm working on...



#4 - some of you already know the story of why this one is a UFO right now. I'll keep it short by saying that "Sleepy Hollow" by Glendon Place is currently in time out. Something having to do with spending more then 2 hours frogging silk threads.... Anyways, it's being done as called for, fabric and all.



Back to a relatively current project....#5 is "Jardin d'jour" by Needlemania. I fell in love with the pattern and decided I needed to do it twice. Once in blue on a brown fabric and once in brown on blue fabric. Colors were matched to a pillow from my bedroom and I plan on hanging them both on a wall. Whether or not that will happen, we'll just have to wait and see. The pattern is fun, so it just might! Can't remember the names of the colors off the top of my head, but the fabric is 32 count (maybe chocolate brown?) and the thread is Threadworx (something to do with rain).



One more cross stitch WIP to go! This one was actually started yesterday. I was gently reminded by a great customer that I had a designer coming into the store in July and it would probably be nice to have something of hers hanging on my wall. So, I went through a list in my head of anyone who I know who might have one for me, but came up blank. Then I tried to come up with someone willing to do one for me but with the amount of time involved, came up blank there too. Therefore, below we have "Quaker Samplings I" by With my needle. I'm using 32 ct Light Examplar linen and Currant by Gentle Arts. Loving the big differences in color.



Last, but definitely not least, a WIP for you crocheters out there. This is the Sweetheart Ripple afghan featured in the Feb 2009 Crochet World magazine. The yarn is "I Love This Yarn" in cream and a purple whose name I can't remember. Very easy and enjoyable to do when I have time!



That's it! I promise next Wed won't be so long :) Guess I best get to work now!

Happy stitching!

Quick Correction

I have been told that those baby birds are barn swallows, no muddaubers... They're still precious though! Whatever they are!

Tick Bite?

So, Kyle was out roaming around in the outdoors geocaching a week ago and came home with an insect bite of some sort on his ankle. A week later, it looked like this:



You can't quite see it well with the camera, but it looks like a classic bulls eye and to me screams tick bite. Especially since I had an ex-coworker who got bit by a tick and that's what his looked like. Kyle, of course, being a man, didn't believe me. Had to look it up online. Saw several pictures that looked just like his ankle. Hmmmmm. Still didn't believe me. Emailed his dad the picture of his ankle. Dad doesn't think it's a tick bite and he will be ok. Step mom, Jackie, isn't sure what it is and thinks he should go see a doctor. He finally conceded in going to urgent care (doesn't matter that his bite looked like a known tick bite and I had been telling him to go to the doc for several hours already). So, first off, I want to say a big thank you to Jackie for supporting me! Because without you, who knows what would have happened? Anyways, the doctor wasn't sure what kind of bite it was but he was going to treat it like a tick bite because Lyme Disease is not something you want to get. Kyle is now on antibiotics and I'm happy. Of course, now he's saying that he has to stay off his feet as much as possible and therefore can't mow the lawn, do the dishes or do laundry. Nice try! I keep telling him that if he would let me close the store for one day a week I'd be happy to help! Still no luck with that. Men!

Cats, Dogs, Baby Birds, and Tea!

So, I was talking to Ma Teakettle on facebook the other day, and I realized that I didn't have any recent pictures of my kiddos! Therefore, I pulled out the good camera, charged the batteries and went on a mission for good pictures :). No one really wanted to sit nice for me, but I did manage to get a few good ones. We're currently pug sitting for my parents while they are gone, and I was extremely shocked that I could get all five dogs to stay on the back porch long enough for me to snap a picture. Only the girls are looking at the camera and smiling, but I got all five!




This is Sally cat in her normal complaining mood. I swear she is always complaining about something... either you're not petting her when she wants to be pet, or you're petting her when she doesn't, or she wants food or water or a straw...



And Oogie Boogie being his lazy self. He's gotten huge! Think it's time to put him on a diet.... Wish I could get a good picture of him without him looking evil, because despite his name and his eyes, he really isn't evil! The beautiful blue eyes just don't like to be photographed.



My stuck up kitty - Jack. Thinks he can get away with anything and normally does. Thought this picture showed off his personality perfectly!



And last, but not least, the baby muddaubers outside the store. Aren't they just the most precious things? I have several good pictures, but this was the only one that showed all five of them. Maybe I'll post the others at a later date. Will have to keep my camera close so I can get more pics of them growing up.



Now on to the good stuff. Tea! Those that know me well know how I love my tea. I've even gone so far as to write a post solely about Teavana - my favorite tea store! Anyways, I was off updating myself on everyone else's blogs and Miss Parsley informed her followers about a teapot giveaway! Check out Anne's blog and leave a comment to get entered into the drawings. Not only is she giving away one teapot, she's giving away two! And they are awesome. Thank you Anne for your generosity!

Happy crafting!

Not a Great Day

Didn't sleep well last night and am feeling incredibly cruddy today. Been nauseous all morning and it's all I can do to keep food down right now! No fun. Finally was able to finishing entering all my new charts and gadgets into the computer at the store that arrived this week. So much fun stuff! Still need to price them and get them on the floor, but again with this whole tired/sick stuff, I can't find the energy.

I had a customer yesterday mention the message board at 123stitch.com and felt a tad guilty that I haven't been keeping up with it. So after reading everyone's updated blogs I trudged on over there only to find a crochet afghan I want to do! For those of you that don't know, 123stitch.com is a cross stitch site. Go figure. So, I downloaded the magazine from e-patternscentral.com and printed the pattern. Guess I'll be hitting up the yarn stash this evening. Just what I need - another project! I think I have something like 6 or 7 cross stitch projects going right now, and I won't even mention the number of crochet and knit UFOs that have been sitting on the back burner since I picked up cross stitch again.

Guess I should really get back to work, and try to eat something as well. So, I'll close with a few pics of my cross stitch WIPs.

Happy stitching (or crocheting, or knitting, or whatever craft you do)!

Peppermint Twist by Blue Ribbon Designs



For This Child by My Big Toe



Jardin d'Jour by Needlemania

Wondering Where I've Been?

I've been working! Yeah! The store is up and running and I'm loving every minute of it. I have a Blog there, so I've mostly been updating that instead of this. Oops! Check out the stores website, blog, forums, and online store and let me know what you think! I'll try to get back into a routine of updating here as well, but no guarantees, so save my stores blog as a favorite too!

Pictures

Ok, so I figured out where my pictures were! They were on my phone... Therefore, they are not the greatest. And the Stitching with Friends wasn't complete at time of the picture. Guess I'll just post them now, and one I get that one back from the shop I'll post an updated picture, as well as a new picture of Housework in it's frame...







I figured by now I'd be back into my crochet and knitting, since it's getting cooler out, but there's way too much cross stitch that needs to be done for Christmas, so I guess those WIPs are gonna have to stay the way they are for a while longer yet. Maybe one day I'll find a way to do it all!

Cross Stitch

As you know, I've picked cross stitching back up again earlier this year. And I must say that I've grown rather addicted! Been spending more time stitching then anything else, and have finished three projects so far. Of course, I still have many, many more to go... I wonder if I can remember how to upload pics on this thing... the first one I finished was "Hawaiian Islands Map" by Chris Faye. I then did "Housework" by My Big Toe for my friend Juanita, and "Stitching With Friends" by Glory Bee for my friend Isabel. All are framed and gorgeous. I don't have pictures of Juanita's and Isabel's framed though. Will have to get those soon. Isabel's is currently on display at our local store. Woohoo! Here are the pics... Or maybe not. Can't find the darn things on my computer! I guess you'll have to wait until I figure out where the heck they are.

I have many WIPs going right now, including "Caring Wings" and "Circle of Friends" by Mirabilia, and "Joy" Christmas ornament by The Sweetheart Tree. The ornament is for an ornament swap at the shop. Don't know what I was thinking when I picked that one up, but it's gonna look awesome when done!

Now I'm gonna work on finding those pictures and getting that ornament done!

The Break Is Over! (I think...)

hello! how is everyone doing? is anyone still out there?!?!? kyle decided to start a blog (We Keep the Change) for us for our experiment in finding change, and he's inspired me to sign back in to blogger. i didn't realize it's been almost two years!!! things have been kind of insane over the last couple of years, but i know that's no excuse. somehow i'll find a way to catch you all up on what's been going on! lots of projects started and completed. i even decided to pick up a cross stitch again. i know, it's been a while (like 20 years) but i found something that i just had to make for kyle, so i'm working on it. i'll post pics when it's done and i've given it to him (look for pics in september). mom and dad finally made it out here to texas. moved in december of '08. went to a cross stitch store with mom yesterday and found my next project to kyle's dismay. lol. why i though cross stitch would be cheaper then crochet, i don't know. anyways, the hooks, needles, and yarn have been temporarily put aside. but, that's just the recent news. i'll catch ya up with pics soon!

New News

Ok, so most of you already know that I've been travelling a lot, and when I travel, I rarely have time to update my blog. Sorry! Not a lot has happened, so you haven't missed much. All the exciting stuff (if you want to call it exciting) has all come about since this past Friday (last week).

So, #1, and by far the most important, I went to see my ortho again for the hematomas from the accident. Not really a good visit. He basically told me that he has seen no change and that my body has done all the healing that it plans on doing in it's own. Uhhh, ok. What does that mean? That means surgery to drain the hematoma's. Not good. For those of you interested, the surgery is this coming Tuesday (the 23rd). They will be keeping me in the hospital for 2-3 days to make sure I don't get any blood clots and that the cavities from the hematoma's don't fill back up again. Then I'll be home for at least a week until my post-op appointment on Nov. 2nd. We'll go from there depending on how things are healing and whatnot. On Friday, I wasn't looking forward to this. BUT I started having pain on Friday and it's progressively gotten worse (i called the doc begging for pain pills on Wed and I have a hight tolerance for pain) and now it's to the point that I can barely walk. I tell ya, I can't wait for that surgery now! Can't quite figure out why the pain has come back and that bothers me. But, I'm trying not to worry too much about it now. Anyways, enough about that.

Update #2: I finally got my invite to Ravlery! Yeah! I'm so very excited. And I'm thinking that I'll have plenty of time after my surgery to get things up and running there. And to check it out more.

That's it. All that time and nothing interesting other than those two things. Sigh.

So Exhausted

Well, I've been travelling for work again. Was in Texas City two weeks ago, Odessa last week, and will be in Texas City again for the next two weeks. Needless to say, my weekends have basically been filled with unpacking, doing laundry, cleaning house and re-packing. No time to do anything exciting. The Texas City work has been office work, which was fine, but Odessa was my first time out doing field work since the accident, and I think it was a little much for me so soon - I was hurting by Wednesday already. Ugh. And this weekend I have hardly been home either. Kyle decided he wanted to go geocaching today. Had a plan to do 15 caches so I can finally reach 200. I think we found five. Not a good caching day. I must say, though, we didn't actually look for all 15 caches though. Some of them were in questionable places, or in areas we passed and decided not to turn around to go find. Guess I should go log my caches. What I really want to do is sleep. Gotta get up at 4:30 to exercise before heading to the airport. Ick.

Ok, can hardly keep the eyes open. Taking my unfinished socks with me in hopes of having some time and energy to work on them. Maybe I'll have one done by the time I get home on Friday.... Just wanted to let everyone know that I'm still around!

It's a Girl!

While being distracted by football today, I did manage to put together one of my two Baby Snow Dragon. Kyle wanted a dragon that looked like Elliot from Pete's Dragon and this is what happened! I do believe that Elliot had a baby girl! I think she's the cutest of the animals so far. Heading to Texas City tomorrow, so won't be able to put the other one together until next weekend. Dang football. At least the Packers, Chargers AND Steelers won! Let me know what you think of Baby Ellie, and have a great week!

More Faces Only a Mother Can Love

Ok. Made the Aerial Pig the other day and again, I am quite proud of my accomplishment. Of course, he's sitting on the end of the coffee table looking scary right now. Yet another face only a mother can love! Here's a pic of my piggy with my nekkid sheep...



And, of course, the title of this post wouldn't be accurate without these pictures!





And then we move on to what I've been up to this weekend...



Now, some of you will know exactly what this is and what it's going to be, and some of you are probably thinking WTF? I guess you're just going to have to wait and see! I've got a few more pieces to make before assembly, so I'll be working on that while watching football. And maybe, just maybe, there will be another post at the end of the day...

Go Packers and Chargers!!!

Weigh In Day #1

Well today was my first weigh in day after starting the Body for Life Program. I got up every morning at 5, did my required exercises (I'm proud of myself for that), ate 6 portion sized, healthy, balanaced meals daily, and drank 8 to 10 glasses of water daily. So now tell me, how could I have gained a pound, and 2% body fat? I could understand gaining weight if I had lost body fat, but to gain body fat? I haven't even eaten cheese this week! And you all know how I love my cheese. I just don't get it.

Nekkid Sheep

Seeing how there was an official mascot for International Crochet day, and the pattern was available, I decided I needed one to carry with me as a reminder of the upcoming holiday! He's my first stuffed animal, so he's a little wonky, but I think he's cute anyways. Probably one of those situations where only a mother can think he's cute, but oh well! Without further ado, here he is!



Pattern can be found here. Go and make your own International Crochet Day mascot!

International Crochet Day!

Mr. Jimbo is trying his hardest to start a new holiday dedicated to crochet, and I'm here to help promote it! What am I gonna do? I'm going to let EVERYONE I know about it! And they're going to tell EVERYONE they know about it! And so on and so forth. Any friends and family interested in learning (I know of a few)? I'm here to help in whatever way, shape, or form! So go out, grab a hook and some yarn, and start crocheting! I was hoping I could use my floating holiday this year to sit around and crochet all day, but, alas, my company is sending me to a clients office that week and I am unable to. So, after work that day I plan on sitting in my hotel room and crocheting my little heart out until I can't crochet anymore. Have yet to figure out what I'm going to make, but whatever it is will be going to charity. Guess I should pick a charity first, eh? So, ideas and suggestions are welcome! I also know what YOU are going to do to honor and promote International Crochet Day!

In other news, I have an FO!!!! Bet you would never have guess that, eh? I made Kimberly's Sideways Lace Scarf and I think it turned out great! I used Bernat DenimStyle in a color whose name I can't read off the label. lol. The pattern in the yarn makes it a little difficult to see the pattern in the scarf, but I loved the yarn - it's so soft and snuggly! I found another nice soft and snuggly yarn to make another scarf out of, but it's just too fuzzy. It was one of Hobby Lobby's yarns, and it was on sale, but now I have two skeins of it and I have no idea what to do with it. Maybe tomorrow I can take a picture of the yarn and give ya'll the stats so you can help me out. I know you are all brilliant and have great ideas!

Ok, I need to go prepare the strawberry cheesecake for dessert so I can do some crocheting. So, I'll leave you with the pics of my scarf! Sorry the full length picture is a tad blurry. I'll have to try re-taking it sometime. I want to make more so if anyone wants one, shoot me a comment! Have a great night!





Oh yeah - added the second strip to my afghan. Don't remember if I told ya or not. But, here is the pic of that too!

Some Better Pictures

Kyle was a real sweety yesterday and bought me one of those LCD picture frames for our anniversary. But, no only did he do that, he scanned several of our wedding photos and loaded them, along with photos from other great times we've had together, into the frame. He also loaded in our wedding song and the song that was played while our guests were being seated so they play when you're viewing the slideshow. Isn't that just so wonderful? It made me cry. Anyways, I had him email me some of the pictures that he scanned so I can post a couple of better pictures. Here they are!

First off - Kyle waiting for the wedding to begin. Like the sunglasses?



Me in the gazebo...



Me and Kyle (my favorite picture)...



and the whole family...