It's raining, it's pouring... Yay!!

Hello again, my faithful readers. It's time once again for an update.

As the title suggests it's raining here in SW Ontario, and boy am I glad. It has been so dry and hot for the last few weeks. The grass is brown, but the weeds are green! I hope this evens things out! lol

On to the stitching! I am using my iPad with Blogger to post, and it doesn't always let me put pictures in the order I would like to, so please bear with me.

Th first picture is from a chocolate exchange with one of my Yahoo groups from Deb Kluges. It's a lovely piece of 28 count linen in a luscious raspberry chocolate colour! The picture does not do it justice! Thank you so much again, Deb!

The second picture is some stitching I have done for another Yahoo group. It's a combination of an exchange and challenge. Heading to visit my parents tomorrow to raid Mom's fabric to finish them up. One gets sent to my partner, and the other two I keep. My exchange ornament will be on its way to you early next week, Tricia!

The third picture is my July TUSAL update, both for the last month and year to date.

The fourth is my progress on Mirabilia's Silver Moon Tea. I had to completely rip it out and start again as I couldn't find where I made the mistake. It's coming along much better now that I restarted it. And for all my Pink ladies from the Stitching Hangout, this is my July Pink update, because: a) I am tickled pink that I got rid of the frogs plaguing me, and b) there is some pink in this project, just a bit by the brown of her hair!! lol Hopefully more pink will show itself as I continue to stitch it. ;)

Last week DD and I trekked to the big city for some retail therapy. Of course no trip to the big city is complete without a stop at our LNS. I picked up some floss and fabric and goodies for a Birthday thread exchange for The Stitch Specialists Yahoo group. (pictures will be in a later post, after my partners recieve their packages) I have the items all bought for my last two partners, which will both go out next week.

But I couldn't resist a little something for me! Those scissors in the 5th picture were screaming at me, yelling "Buy Me!". Plus I have lovely freebies of cheetah-y needlework patterns that these scissors were made for! That is what I am sticking with.

My last picture is the Thread Exchange for The Stitch Specialists Yahoo group from Theoria from South Africa. As you can see, she spoiled me absolutely rotten! I am still fondling all the lovely threads and bits and bobs! lol. Thank you so much again, Theoria. I can't wait to play with everything!

As well, just today I got an email from 1-2-3 Stitch saying that I have a $10 gift certificate from Barbara Crawford to spend there, in the same birthday exchange. I have had a great stash week!

Well we have come to the end of my update. Hope the weather is treating everyone well, wherever you are. Chat soon!

Scrappy Weekend Update, TUSAL, Stitching Disaster, and A CoupleSockMonkeys!

Hello my faithful readers! I hope everyone's weekend is going well!  Here in Canada is the first official long weekend of summer, Victoria Day weekend, or May Two Four!  It has been absolutely gorgeous here, sunny, warm, and not a hint of rain!  I have alot to share with you, so please grab your refreshment of choice, cause this is a long one!!

First off, I had a scrapbooking weekend planned the last weekend in April with Hubby's Aunt Bev.  We went to Friday night crop at a local church in her area to scrap and eat!  (It was pot luck!  I brought danishes)  I met some fabulous ladies and managed to make some cards.  On the Saturday, we went to a crop for ovarian cancer.  I managed to get two double page layouts and five cards made!  I even won some Creative Memories papers!  We scrapped some more at her house Saturday evening, and Sunday morning.  Around noon, I left to pick up DD, who spent the weekend with my parents.

Layout I made for Korbin, now just need to add pics!

Layout of our 2007 Florida trip to Disney World.

This is one of the cards I made.  It was for my Dad's Birthday, which was May 2.  It had birds on it in honour of my Dad!

This one is for my BIL, whose birthday was on May 13, but since I won't be seeing him until June 19, I am saving it and his present until then.  Besides, he doesn't read my blog.

I have a couple more cards, but I can't show you until the events have passed, because I don't want to ruin the surprise!

These two charmers down below are what my DD and Mom made while I was away!  They had a crafty weekend too!  They finished these two, and had two more almost finished.

The one on the left is one DD made for a friend of hers.  He loved him!  But he is as yet, un-named!  The one on the right is DD's.  We (alright, me!!) have named her Gertrude, Gertie for short.  DD was taking way too long naming her.  And if her friend doesn't hurry up and name his, I will!!

The other two are going to little ones, one for my nephew, Korbin and the last one to my sister's niece, Lexy.

I just have to share, I won a giveaway from Scrapbook and Cards Today magazine blog!  I was so excited! I won a surprise goodie bag full of things to scrap with!  Plus some extras!  I check out this blog faithfully everyday.  And I won a prize over a year ago, but had never received the prize.  So I called the magazine and got the owner/editor, who felt very bad that I never received my prize, so she threw in some extras and had it shipped priority to my house!!

I can't wait to play with all this fun stuff!!

This is the view from my vehicle three of four afternoons a week!  I sit by the lake, watch DD row, and stitch!

That is her rowing in the distance.

This is my start on Around the World in 80 Stitches by Papillion Creations.  Not very far with it, I'm afraid.

The frogs have come to visit!  I seem to be making counting mistakes everytime I sit down to stitch this one!  I get one specialty stitch done, then I have to rip it out and start it again!

The next part came out today, but I am having trouble getting it to download! I have an email into Yvonne, so hopefully she can help me sort it out!

If you don't mind, please take a look at  Mirabilia's Silver Moon Tea below.

Can you find the mistake?  Me either.  Sigh.  But there is one there somewhere!  I just can't find it!  At this time all is being ripped out.  Going to start in the top left corner and work at it that way.  Hopefully I will be able to trick the frogs into going away!  If any one wants my frogs, willing to get rid of them real cheap!  lol

Here is my monthly TUSAL update!

Here is DD's stitching update for the last two months.  Since Florida, actually.

Dragon of Water, Dragon Dreams

Dragon of Earth and Dragon of Fire, both Dragon Dreams as well.

Since it has been so nice this past week, I've been motivated to tidy up my flower beds.

Front bed, with two oriole feeders

Back flower bed.  Trying to discourage Copper from using this as a litter box!  I also cleaned out my big pots and urns yesterday, so now all I need to get is dirt, fertilizer and plants!  More pics to come when I get my pots planted!

This was the view out my upstairs hall window one morning a couple weeks back!  Yes, it is my nemesis!

This thing just makes such a mess!!  Don't let the cuteness fool you!!

It must be spring!!

This was taken with my iPhone the other day at the lake where DD rows.  The goslings were so cute and fluffy!  But these birds are the bane of DD's rowing coach!!  They leave little presents all over the dock!  lol

Speaking of baby birds leaving the nest.  I know I usually like to end my blog with a bird picture, but this is my baby bird!

She's not quite ready to leave the nest, but she is a step closer.  Here is a photo I took of her at school a week ago for her Grade 8 Grad photo shoot.  There was a professional photographer there to take individual and group photos of the class.  I brought my camera along too!  I'm not ashamed to admit I got a little teary-eyed looking at her looking so grown up.  All the grads looked wonderful in their dresses and suits!

Well, if you made it this far, thanks for coming along!  Hope you all enjoy the rest of the weekend!  Chat soon

April TUSAL and other stitching news

Hello, all my faithful readers! I have lots of big news to share, so grab a coffee, tea, or beverage of your choice. I am using my iPad for this post, so things might look a little different.

First of all, Sharon (aka Daffycat) I must apologize, I completely forgot to post March's TUSAL update. We were in Florida when my alert notified me, and when we got home, it completely slipped my mind. So here it is, with both my ort jars.

Since my last post, I have been really busy running DD to volleyball practices and games, and finally the tournamnet, which they came in third! Way to go, Bulldogs!! Plus outdoor rowing, on the lake! Then our water pump for the house went, and my washer and dryer had been acting up! So all three have been replaced!

We also had a scare with our kitty, Chloe! On Easter weekend, we woke up to our little bebe not feeling like herself. She was lethargic and not eating, which is so not like her! She is the first one to want to eat! And she wasn't drinking, so I gave her water by medicinal syringe. Easter Monday saw her at the vet's, where she stayed for three days and two nights. Blood tests, x-rays, and meds later, the conclusion was she had an inflamation of the intestines. I am happy to say she is back to her old, demon-like ways! lol we are happy to have her back!

Now on to the stitching update! With everything that has been happening, I'm afraid I haven't been getting much stitching done!

April TUSAL

TSS Thread Exchange for Jeanne Schutts

These are the threads for the Birthday Thread Exchange! I hope Jeanne gets it soon!

Here is my progress on Mirabilia's Silver Moon Tea. Not much, but every stitch helps!

Around the World in 80 Stitches SAL by Papillion Creations
Fabric-28 ct Lugana in New Khaki
DMC floss- 3011, 3012, 3013, 315, 778, 924, 927, 3821, 3823, 3740, 3743
Metallic thread-Rainbow Blending Thread #908
Beads- Mill Hill #00330
Perle Cotton-#8 and #12 Ecru

Here is my biggest news!! I have a new stand! A Lowry stitching stand! I am so in love with this stand! Hubby bought me this for our anniversary in May! Isn't he wonderful?! Many thanks go out to all the ladies who helped me with their opinions and advise! This is completely adjustable, and I am still kind of fine-tuning it, but so far it's wonderful! My shoulder doesn't hurt anymore, which is great!

I also bought The Victoria Sampler Stitcherama Cyberclass, Gingerbread Etui, which starts in September! I am very excited about this, as it goes with my other Gingerbread VS projects! Hopefully I can get the Stitching House and Church done before it starts! Wish me luck! lol

I was going to start ATW today, but I have a head cold, stuffy nose, earache, so I think I will just continue with Silver Moon Tea. Hope everyone has had a great weekend! Chat soon!

Third November Post (or I don't know what to tell you, I've been busy.)

This month has been busy!  I have been busy stitching!  I seem to have more time!  My housework has been very manageable, and I am getting more done.  It has been very pleasant, to say the least!  Even with Christmas coming, I'm not stressing.  I have most of the presents bought, and a good idea of what needs to be bought.  I am slowly decorating for the holidays, so it'a all good! 

Here is my first finish of this post!  It is Tiny Rose Mandala by Chatelaine!

 It was fun to stitch!  But I had bogged down on it because I was waiting for some silk floss to finish it.  (It finally arrived!)  I have three more little Chatelaine's kitted up, and will probably work on them in the New Year!

I started and finished this one yesterday afternoon!  I needed to get my ornament done for my November  ornament SAL post.  It's from Daffy Cat's blog!

 Mistletoe Reindeer.  Took it with me while DD had her rowing workout!

Here is the progress on my Stoney Creek Moonbeams and Stardust Witch.  Now working on the crescent moon she sits on.  It is full of metallic threads!

 This is the jar I chose for the Totally Useless SAL from Daffy Cat's blog.  It is a candle jar that I thought was pretty!  Started putting my cast offs in already!

Last Saturday afternoon, my LNS, Stitch It Central, had an open house, where people get to come and shop and sit and stitch!  The meal is pot luck, so everyone brings something.  I did not stay for the meal, but I still brought something.  My wonderful mom made homemade cream puffs for me to take!!  With real whipped cream and drizzled chocolate!  They are sooo yummy!  Everyone loved them!

I needed to grab some DMC's to finish kitting up a couple small projects, but that was all I was going to buy. Unless Maria had the new CCN Gingerbread Houses!  She did. (Sigh)  It came home with me, as well as all the threads to stitch it with!  Hee hee!  I brought my own fabric from home, just in case!  lol!

 And I had to start it.  Well, I had to have something to stitch at the Stitch and Sit, didn't I?  Never mind that I brought a couple other things to stitch in case she didn't have it.  (The Victoria Sampler Ginger Bread Stitching house and The Great Escape SAL)

 Here is my progress as of right now.  This one will probably be done before Christmas.

I didn't show you all this ornament from the Great Finishing expo a couple of posts ago, although it was finished.  You see, it didn't have the lovely silver trim around it yet!  Mom discovered the silver braid after she had sewn it together, so she asked me to bring it back so she could take it apart and add the silver braid.  

 This picture does not do this ornament justice!  It is so beautiful!  I love this ornament!  It turned out wonderfully!  Thanks again, Mom!  You're the greatest!

I worked on my Christmas cards last week, and Sunday night I finished them.  They are waiting for DD's school pictures to arrive, then they will be addressed and sent on their way!  

 I used my Cricut Expression to make all the holly and leaves! 

 Here is the sentiment inside the card.  I thought they were very cute!

Yesterday morning, I worked on my outside decor for the holidays.  I brought home a whole bunch of greenery that Mom, Deb and I harvested at the farm!  We took the loader tractor back to the fence line and gathered and cut all kinds of white pine boughs for decorating!  I brought mine home with me last Saturday night!  The whole back of my Cadi was full!  (shhh, don't tell Hubby!  I'm pretty sure I cleaned up all the evidence! lol)  Mom and DD cut some of the red sticks and berries while I was at the Sit and Stitch, and Deb gave me the birch stick.  I am pleased with the way it turned out, but I think I need a couple more birch sticks.

 What do all think?

I almost forgot to show you all what I got from the open house at my LNS!  All of us who attended the open house got to pick a little package!  In it was a sweet pair of scissors (of course I HAD to grab the pink!  lol), a lovely little biscorn pattern and either Aida or linen!  I believe it was all Polstitches fabric.  What a wonderful surprise!

 Now I just need to find some threads to stitch it!  Maybe some of my lovely silks.

This is my DD's latest finish!  She had stalled on this because she was missing one colour!  DMC 322, which I picked up on Saturday for her.  She finished it Sunday while we were watching movies.

 It's a Dragon Dreams freebie called "Compassion".

I don't have any bird pictures to show this time, but I do have a sweet picture of two of our kitties, Copper and Chloe.  The day before they were play fighting (I hope), but this was snapped yesterday, all tuckered out!

For all my firiends in the USA, I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful this past weekend.  And for my friends around the world, I hope your weekend was lovely, too!  I hope everyone is stitching and enjoying the start of holiday season!  Chat soon!

Second November Post! (or What is the World Coming To?!)

Hello all my faithful readers!  Yes, you heard right!  A SECOND post for the month of November!  I just had some things to share!  So here they are!

I finished the Biscornu for my Mom!  I gave it to her a couple days after her Birthday, but she was very happy with it!  It is a Papillon Creations freebie, called Love Letters!  I modified it slightly, as I cut my fabric a teensie bit too small!  Oh well, all well that ends well!  I used some Perle cotton 80 that I bought on sale and because I liked the colours!

 This is the Birthday card I made for Mom!

This one is for my "nephew" Korbin, for his first birthday party!  I think they both turned out rather well!  Now I have to make my Christmas cards!!

This was the Exchange I participated in for the first Birthday celebration of The Stitch Specialist's Yahoo group!  Rae sent all these lovely things to stitch and fondle!  lol!  I can't wait to play with all the new stuff!  Thanks again, Rae!  It was so worth the wait!!

Here is my ornie for my Ornament a Month SAL!  It is freebie from Daffy Cat's blog called "Snow Hop"!  How did she know I have a thing for birds, let alone fat little cardinals?!  It was like she was reading my mind!!  lol!  Speaking of Daffy Cat, I also joined her TUSAL for 2012!  I can't wait!  I added the New Moon dates into my calendar and set reminders for myself!  Now I just need to find a pretty ort jar!

I am bitterly disappointed in the weatherman!  We had snow a week ago!  I am sooo not a fan of winter!  Admittedly, the snow didn't stick around, but I did wake up to it!  I know it's not much, but why?!  Oh well, it gives me more time to stitch!

I saw a hawk yesterday morning!  So I changed lenses in my camera and managed to snap a couple pictures! I'll have you know I braved the cold in my pj's and slippers to get these shots!  Oh maybe I shouldn't share that I was still in my jammies!  Please disregard last statement!  lol!  As he took off flying I heard him scream which was really cool!  The only downside is that I didn't see any other birds for a while!  And I was kinda worried about him trying to snatch our kitty Chloe, but I'm pretty sure she would have won!  She's pretty spicy!!

DD and I are so excited today!!  We are hitting the theatre tonight to watch the new Twilight Saga movie, Breaking Dawn Part 1!  Will let you know how it is!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!  Chat soon!