The eve of a new year

There's something about the end of one year and the start of a new one that causes one pause.  A time for thinking back over accomplishments and fails over the last year and what to do more of the same and what changes should be made. 

I'm glad I'm stitching again and finishing what I've started.  I'd like to not buy too many new charts and work up the ones I have and the kits I have.  My way of dealing with our falling over the fiscal cliff (or were we pushed??).  Of course as I say this I remember that Lizzie Kate is doing a series of Christmas ornaments.  Sight unseen they are a must have.  Then there's the candy cane perforated paper series my local xs shop is hosting.  Although I love candy canes (Melissa's needlepoint designs are too die for!) these are big and clumsy looking.  But I'll probably get them anyway. 

I have a ton of Shepherd's Bush kits that I want to stitch; some that I've started.  You'd think I'd at least do the Halloween ones since I like those so much. 

We'll see!!

Finished the eggnog freebie!!! FINALLY!

I haven't had the chance to scan it. Not only have I finally finished stitching the Eggnog freebie by Casey Buonaugurio, but I've stitched (AND FINISHED) three of them!  Hip hooray for me, if I do say so myself.  I've wanted to stitch it since 2006 when I first received the chart.  Six years....not too terribly bad. LOL  Here's more of her freebies.

I'm almost done with my Christmas shopping.  One more item to buy from Amazon.com and a gift card.  If I'm smart, I'll leave posting on the blog to go order my item!  See ya later.

Northcott fabric lecture

This was a wonderful lecture with dozens of example quilts!  About 45 of us listened, oooed and ahhhhed at all the wonderful samples and tips.  Made me want to quilt again! LOL  I resisted buying a felt candle mat because I don't believe in having lighted candles in a house with cats.  It took until today to think that I don't have to use it for a real candle; I can get a fake one with a flicker lightbulb!  Now I want the candle mat. :)

I picked up three more James Patterson paperbacks at the used bookstore yesterday.  I'd not heard of any of them (these are what I call "solos" as they are not part of any of his series).  I'm thrilled!  Let it snow!!  (Not really, I don't want the inconvenience of snow.)

Frankenstorm is coming!!!!

Looks likes Hurricane Sandy will retrograde and come my way.  Batten down the hatches -- it's going to be a bit wet out!! LOL

I want to stock up on batteries for my clip on Ott Light and my AM/FM radio (yes, I still have one of these).  I have plenty of books to read and certainly enough cross stitch to keep me busy.  They're all but promising power outages; backup trucks are already on their way from out of state.  Buy tuna and peanut butter!!

I finished the Lizzie Kate extras from the Halloween Mystery charts.  Yea!!!

Ridiculous bridezilla email to her bridesmaids!!

http://gawker.com/5948725/reasons-why-you-cannot-be-a-bridesmaid


To m lovely Bridesmaid: [Names removed to protect the brideslaves]




As you all know I picked 10 wonderful ladies to stand by my side, share and make happen my special day to Jake. Each of you individually have a reason and a special place in my heart of why I picked you to be a bridesmaid. We have set our date for Saturday, August 31, 2013 in Vail, Colorado. That seems far away but it really isn't, the earlier the planning the better. You may have already knew that my wonderful sister L— will be the Maid of Honor, she's in charge under me. Also my lovely mom will be a big help as well. L— has a big role in throwing me a bridal shower and bachelorette party, of course all of you guys do but at the end of the day shes the go to person and makes it happen.



You all have a big roll in this wedding, so before we continue I'm going to be setting some ground rules and its very important you read and think about everything through before you accept this honor to be a bridesmaid. If you guys email anything I would also like you to put L— in the CC. Not all the bridesmaid need to be CC'd unless its coming from me or L—, if it something everyone needs to see then well do it. We set the date to August 31, 2013 if that's a problem we need to know NOW. Also by the end of the week we will be setting dates for the engagement party, bridal show and bachelorette party.



Our wedding party is really the most important people at the wedding besides my self and Jake so we want every single one of our bridesmaid and grooms at our parties, I have 10 not 8 where two couldn't make it so if you already know you cant make one of the parties then we have to find someone else, not to be harsh in the slightest it would sadden me and of course you'll still be invited to our wedding, engagement ect. But it's different if your not in the wedding party and couldn't make it. We'll give everyone well advance dates for the parties and it will always fall on a weekend. The wedding as I stated will be in Vail the engagement party will either be in NY or CT and the bachelorette party will be in Vegas, cliche yeaa but I've never been.



A few girls live out of town so if there is going to be a problem with coming to either one then I need to know now because after this week I don't want to be surprised. I would like everyone to send me any dates they are going away or planning to go away after February so if your going away in January I don't care. I want any dates from February to the day of our wedding in August, that way we know not to plan something when your away. But after this week the dates are set in stone. Also if money is tight and you cant afford to contribute to say the bachelorette party or wont be able to afford a dress etc then L— and Myself don't have time to deal with that, I'm sorry. This includes flights as well, everyone knows the states where the parties are going to be held so if you wont be able to afford a flight then that means you cant make a party which ultimately means I cant have you as a bridesmaid. Obviously we'll get the best deals and were not gonna books flights for $1000 and shit that's why were doing this in advance, that goes for bridesmaids dresses as well everything will be affordable but if you think by affordable its going to be a $25 forever 21 dress then your going to the wrong wedding.



If your out of state though don't think you have to fly in for all fittings, that we will work with you, find stores in your town, get measurements..you don't have to worry about that. Also if you accept this honor another thing is that you need to be available, I'm not going to harass you with wedding stuff every hour of everyday but if its something important and it takes you a week even 2-3 days to get back to me seeeee ya! I don't have time to wait around for responses, everyone has their phone on them, it shouldn't take you more than a day to get back to me, even if your out of the country, check your email!



Furthermore, Ever since I could remember I have dreamed about this day all my life. I want to share it with the people that are most important to me. You only get one time to plan your dream wedding and I couldn't pick a more amazing group of girls to make that dream come true! So please, what's stated above think about it all and by Wednesday I need to know if everyone is 100% in, and what I have asked about sending me dates if your gonna be away between Feb-Aug ill need that on Wednesday. If you don't think you'll be able to attend one party but can make the rest of them I'm sorry but I'll have to take you out as a bridesmaid and put you as a guest. If you want to get back to me before Wednesday, that's fine. Really think about everything I've said. This is really going to be the most epic wedding ever so I hope you girls can share this special day with us!



Love,

New American Gothic cross stitch

I do so want to stitch the classic American Gothic.  Plus I have one with cows in place of the people and, I think, pigs.  Now Glendon Place has Frank's Family Portrait (a must do!!) and By the Bay has Pumpkin Bumpkins.  I picture them all hanging together!  None of them stitched and I've owned some of the charts so long that they are no longer in print.  Don't know where they are either....well, I know they are in one of a dozen Xerox boxes full of charts. 

I'm in a bit of a stitching slump.  I don't want to do anything but read lately.  I did go through the JCS Christmas ornament issue and get DMC yesterday at Joann Fabrics.  Using a 20% off everything coupon was my motivator.  Floss is 39 cents and the coupon made it 31 cents.

Off to the beach!!

I like going to the yarn shops there.  However, one has a blog and she really, REALLY dislikes customers.  Fortunately for me, I like her stock and her clerks.  I'll be purchasing!

I finished Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen yesterday.  Very well written and I loved the ending.  I'll have to look into other stuff she's written.

My first Olympics finish: SB Fear Not

Not only did I start and finish the stitching during the Olympics broadcast, I completed it into an ornament as well!!    I've now started the snowman by Amy Bruecken called Sandra Lea.  It's patriotic and I didn't get it started for the 4th of July so now it's on my Olympics stitching list.  I'm stitching it on WDW Straw 30 ct.

Finished SB freebie with button: Flower Power/new purchases

Saw it framed with what has to be a Jill Rensel design in bright pink with two 3-D funky flowers.  In Stitches framed it in a white and then a bright pink frame to match the matting.  It's so cute!  I stitched it in less than a week and took it back to be framed (6 - 8 weeks) when I went to pick up my Woodlawn pieces.  I had bought the same design, kitted at Stitching Post and I plan to make it an ornament for the spring.  Yes, I know it's almost the 4th of July.  Is there a point here??! LOL

I picked up the pattern and fabric for Jane Tindall 1864 by Needlework Press.  It calls for Confederate Gray, but the fabric cutter said she saw it on Lakside Linens' Vintage Tundra so I bought that.  This should be nice.  I just adore the bottom of the piece; the rectangular patches of grass and all the animals.  Not enough time to get it completed AND framed before fair season starts in August.

I also picked up Rachel Ellicott by R&R Reproductions.  Ellicott City is not far from me and I've seen the original hanging in the Sandy Springs Museum (local girl does good).  This is the second copy I've purchased.  Maybe now I'll stitch it. LOL 

From the recent on-line Needlework Show I ordered Caroline Adler 1828 by Cardan Antiques and Needlework.  It's very bright and seem to have a lot of fushia and orange (an underused color combination IMHO).  Once again, this chart has the "typo" of using 40 count fabric. 

Did well enough at Woodlawn!

My Mermaid and the Sea by Examplar Dames got an Honorable Mention and was very well displayed! My fractur alphabet got nothing, but was also well displayed. It was my tuxedo cat part of a Janlyn chart that received a Third Prize!! Yippee!! This cat face looks EXACTLY like Shannon, one of my first kitties, and my first tuxedo cat. I'm so pleased!

Stitching finished in 2011

*quilted horse weathervane by Jean Farish *2 kumihumo cords *4 SB Easter Eggs framed together *4 SB Easter *Honfleur Sampler from SANQ *knitted Easter Eggs *Shannon cat from Janlynn kit *French Country ABC's by JBW Designs Jan 2011 *Warm Heart by Shepherd's Bush 1/26/11 *Busy Bee by Shepherd's Bush 1/20/11 *February by Ewe & Eye & Friends 1/18/11

2012 Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival

I was 8th in the souvenir line! An all time record! It was nice to know that I would be able to purchase whatever I wanted because the other 7 people would not have bought it all. :) I bought 2 shirts and a tote. (Gotta have the tote even though I'd brought a tote with me!) Sheldridge Farm (http://shelridge.com/) had the most beautiful assymetrical sweater kit! It came in greens or blues (online I see it is also available in browns). I bought the blue, but I may have to get the green. I also bought another sweater kit in autumn colors on teal. Just gorgeous!! My favorite place of the hundreds of booths. Lunch was welcome, especially the refreshing drink. The weather was sunny, but mild. A beautiful day for the festival. I got tired early on so I didn't stay nearly as long as I usually do. Went with Pat to the Stitching Post afterwards. That was nice and meant that Sunday was free to do other things. I'm currently reading White Horse. It was compared to The Hunger Games, but other than being set in the future, it has nothing in common with The Hunger Games.

Goodness!! Has it really been this long??

I'm surprised I haven't posted since August! But I've been fighting back pain since mid-August, and for quite a while sitting at the computer was not a high priority.

Thanksgiving was at Alexandra's Restaurant (now remodeled). Delish! I went to the emergency room for the pain in early December. We saw ICE! at Gaylord National at the end of December when I could move easier.

I've discovered the author Tim Dorsey and his wacky serial killer character, Serge A. Storms, who is in love with all things Florida. I read his books as I found them; that is to say, all out of order. This has made it interesting: people alive who are dead, and relationships not recognized that are known. Out of all his books I've only found one I didn't want to read.

I love the book The Hunger Games and wish I had tickets for the movie opening this weekend. I'll go in 3 weeks when it's less crowded. I'll enjoy that more.

I'm stitching on By the Bay's Spring Cove which I call the heron piece. This year for some bizarre and unexplained reason I am stitching on one thing, finishing it and THEN moving on to the next piece. Never did that before. :)

I picked up a small latch hook piece of a cat that looks like my brown tabby, Mindy. (I hate latch hook.) I've got four rows done and it seems like 70,000 more rows to go. Since its 12x12 when done I know that it's not quite that many rows. (I hate latch hook.) I'll like the finished piece, but getting it finished may take longer than I'd like. (Did I mention how much I detest doing latch hook??)

Woodlawn was postponed until May so submissions aren't until April. I hope they send out the brochure this year like they have in previous years. I have a couple of pieces I may enter for the grins of it. They won't do well in competition as I don't have any dog hair stitched into the designs.

I joined a gym. I was a member of a gym in the 90's, but too many gym-rats were there. This gym is more neighborhood oriented so there are all ages, shapes, sizes, and skill levels. I feel quite at home as I do my 15 minutes of walking. I go later this week for my appointment with the trainer for a fitness test. Nothing to do but improve, I'd say! :) I'm proud that since I joined on Saturday, I've gone Sunday and today.