A Life List

I saw this on someone's blog and thought it'd be fun to see how I'm doing.


Things you’ve already done: bold
Things you want to do: italicize
Things you haven’t done and don’t want to - leave in plain font

1. started your own blog
2. slept under the stars
3. played in a band
4. visited Hawaii
5. watched a meteor shower
6. given more than you can afford to charity
7. been to Disneyworld
8. climbed a mountain
9. held a praying mantis
10. sang a solo (I don't sing)
11. bungee jumped
12. visited Paris
13. watched a lightning storm at sea
14. taught yourself an art from scratch
15. adopted a child
16. had food poisoning
17. walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. grown your own vegetables
19. seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. slept on an overnight train
21. had a pillow fight
22. hitch hiked
23. taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. built a snow fort
25. held a lamb
26. gone skinny dipping
27. run a marathon
28. ridden a gondola in Venice
29. seen a total eclipse
30. watched a sunrise or sunset (both!)
31. hit a home run
32. been on a cruise
33. seen Niagara Falls in person
34. visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. seen an Amish community
36. taught yourself a new language
37. had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. seen the leaning tower of Pisa in person
39. gone rock climbing
40. seen Michelangelo’s David in person
41. sung karaoke
42. seen old faithful geyser erupt
43. bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. visited Africa
45. walked on a beach by moonlight
46. been transported in an ambulance
47. had your portrait painted
48. gone deep sea fishing
49. seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. been to the top of the Eiffel tower in Paris
51. gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. kissed in the rain
53. played in the mud
54. gone to a drive-in theater
55. been in a movie
56. visited the Great Wall of China
57. started a business
58. taken a martial arts class
59. visited Russia
60. served at a soup kitchen
61. sold Girl Scout cookies
62. gone whale watching
63. gotten flowers for no reason
64. donated blood
65. gone sky diving
66. visited a Nazi concentration camp
67. bounced a check
68. flown in a helicopter
69. saved a favorite childhood toy
70. visited the Lincoln memorial
71. eaten caviar
72. pieced a quilt
73. stood in Times Square
74. toured the Everglades
75. been fired from a job
76. seen the changing of the guard in London
77. broken a bone
78. been on a speeding motorcycle
79. seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. published a book
81. visited the Vatican
82. bought a brand new car
83. walked in Jerusalem
84. had your picture in the newspaper
85. read the entire bible
86. visited the White House
87. killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. had chickenpox
89. saved someone’s life
90. sat on a jury
91. met someone famous
92. joined a book club
93. lost a loved one
94. had a baby
95. seen the Alamo in person
96. taken a road trip
97. been involved in a law suit
98. owned a cell phone
99. been stung by a bee
100. met the love of your life

32 ct Lambswool linen + American Idol

I find it very interesting that everything I was ready to start stitching on this past weekend called for 32 ct Lambswool linen and I HAD NONE!!! How is that so? It seems to me that every time I go to the xs shop I buy a package of this linen. Where is it going? Although I had a similar problem with size 8 knitting needles when I was doing a lot of knitting. Seemed that every project called for size 8 needles and I could never find a pair. I must've bought at least 15 pairs of size 8 knitting needles over the years!

To put an end to this linen dilemma I've ordered a FULL YARD!!! However, I must note for the record that a fat half yard is needed for the Jim Shore 12 Days of Christmas. I plan to make ornaments and to not stitch the gold border as the pattern suggests. Still, with an extra fat half I SHOULD have some on hand the next time I need it. Cross your fingers!!)

Anyone watching American Idol? This change in format where 12 sing, viewers vote and 3 go through to the final 12 is a bit daunting. However, based on last night, it will be easy to pick 3 out of 12 because only 3 will sing even halfway decently. A few made my ears bleed (so to speak). I'll be happy as long as the girl with the ego complex (and horrible laugh) doesn't get through on a wildcard.

Superbowl sales

I had to take advantage of a couple of Superbowl sales. I met up with friends at The Stitching Post. They had all the Crescent Colors and GAST I needed for two projects. Hooray! Then I bought a couple of pieces of fabric (including a fat half yard for a new RR I'll be in). I found the new Giggle Boxer by Lizzie Kate. What a hoot! It was a last-second add so I didn't get the fabric or fibers for stitching it. When I got home I went online to JJs Collectibles and ordered what the shop didn't have (and what I forgot to look for! LOL).

I really, really, really want to stick to stitching what I already have. SIGH. I say this nearly every year, but I'd been doing well to keep to this plan in November and December of last year and January of this year. I finished two of the Cross Eyed Cricket carrots a week ago and Summer Scissorweight by Ewe & Eye & Friends last week. These were all things I had on hand. My JJs order is for fibers and fabrics for charts I already had. I have so many Shepherd's Bush kits, I could go all year not stitching anything else!

I finished two CEC carrots!

Somewhere I have a zip baggie with the 3 CEC chart books, fibers, and fabbies for all the carrots. I didn't stitch any of those. I stitched the Plum Tree carrot freebie and the Easter carrot. Both are stitched on the green specified for the Easter carrot.

I'm not sure what to stitch on next. Several things have been calling out to me (and certainly several things have been started!), but the Superbowl Sales are coming up and I don't know what I'll end up buying and want to start.

I've ordered the last of the monthly witch's hats from MonsterBubbles.com. Hooray! Then I can get started on my Round Robin!

4 Day weekend!!

I'll be back to work next Wednesday! The weekend, MLK Holiday and my employer has given us off on Inauguration Day. I hope to get a lot of stitching and/or finishing done. I'd like to clear out a couple of boxes in my closet, too. Tomorrow I'm going to see Mall Cop (I think that's the title) at the theater with the good popcorn. I like my popcorn with butter added in the middle and on top, but the serving size is so large I'm going to bring a large Hefty zippered bag to keep what I don't eat both fresh and from leaking butter all over everything.

I finished my Sheepish Grin knotted sheep pendant by Teresa Layman yesterday. It looks great! The back plate wouldn't snap in so I used the E6000 to glue it in place. Just need to get a chain from Michaels and it'll be ready to wear! I enjoyed the colonial and French knots, but I'm not sure I want to buy the bee design right away.

I have my acorn retreat piece to assemble so I might use my new simple White sewing machine to do it. Maybe I should do an ornament first to test out the machine before working on a lovely piece.

Do you have a Trader Joe's grocery store near you? I finally went yesterday and was pleasantly surprised by the variety. I picked up a package of burgundy beef (delicious) and a bag of frozen roasted potatoes (really yummy). They even had ears of corn that reminded me of the peak of summer goodness. I'll definitely go back. A friend tells me there's a larger store in the area. I'll have to check that one out, too.

I found a new designer (to me!)

I was cruising around eBay. Usually I go directly to the designers I'm interested in checking out and it varies. It's probably been years since I just put in cross stitch and looked at the random, chronological listing of items. It was on the first page that I found postings by eBay seller: stitcherhood. Charming yet simple designs! I noticed she has a website (http://www.thestitcherhood.com/) so I checked it out. I felt the charts are reasonably priced and shipping is also reasonable. I bid on 7 of her designs and won 5! I found the other 2 designs in her Buy It Now store and took care of business very quickly. I'm so looking forward to starting these charts!!! I don't know which one to start first! :)

Happy New Year!!!!!!!

The elevators where I work did not make it into the new year in working condition. It's due to the programming. We're experiencing what I call "Y2K + 9". ROFLMEO They have to have an operator stationed in each elevator to take you to your floor. I remember when the department stores would have elevator operators that would close the door to the floor then close the door to the elevator and take you to the floor you wanted. "5th floor housewares." There was a big wheel handle that allowed the operator to make adjustments so the elevator floor and the store floor matched. In the 1950's it was always a woman operator. Equal opportunity for elevator operators has been achieved!! The elevator was literally manned! ;)

I finished a LOT of items while home, but ran out of room in the computer for scanning pics of the finishes. Boo hoo! I'll have to work on that whenever I can pull together some extra minutes.

My finishes include:
Balloon Woman by Tina Richards (ready to pick up at framer)
Cherish Sampler by Shepherd's Bush
Cherish Sampler bracelet by Shepherd's Bush
Christmas sheep necklace by Shepherd's Bush
Eccentric needlepoint
Wanda Witch by Shepherd's Bush
Welcome Bellpull by Calico Crossroads
June Be Cool by Pine Mtn Designs
Nativity Globe (without the globe so I can make it an ornie) by Bent Creek
Blackbird House by Bent Creek
fall freebie
Is It Too Late? by Lizzie Kate
2005 Sampler Ornament: Oh Holy Night by Homespun Elegance


I also started a couple of things:
3 wise men needlepoint kit by Bucilla that I've owned AT LEAST since 1985
Teresa Laymen knotted sheep necklace (I love making French knots!) started 12/31/08
Rose Garden Sampler from Cross Stitch & Country Crafts magazine (if I'm remembering it right)
Dimensions crane needlepoint kit with sunset background
Band Sampler by ??? using Caron Waterlilies Java started on 1/1/09


My unofficial New Year's Resolutions (because if I make them official, I'll never stick with it) is to:
1 - not buy cross stitch every month
2 - stitch on stuff I already have