It's Monday....

Oh, there were so many things to do today -- the most important was to stay home and stitch all day! It didn't happen!!

The phone rings at about 9:30ish. My Mom has a Dr. appointment at 10:30, and says she is feeling a little dizzy, and doesn't think she should drive, and would I please take her. Sure.... rush to get cleaned up and dressed and over there by 10 to leave for her appointment. Dang... it's raining! I hate driving in the rain. Mom's a chatterbox. Do you hear that beeping chime. ACK!!!! It's the 'Low Fuel' light thingee.... No way can I stop on the way there. I wonder how much gas is in the tank when that thing comes on? Get to the Dr.'s. She's there maybe 20 minutes!!! Okay, we head back home. It starts to pour. I don't just mean raining... I can't even see the lines on the road! And, I have to get gas! Pull into the first station -- $3.29 a gallon -- okay. I'll just put in $10.00 to get me home. It is thundering, and I see lightning... and here I am holding on to the metal gas pump! Done with that, back on the road, and finally back on the highway. The van is hydroplaning on the highway!!! I tell Mom I would rather drive in a blizzard than in rain, oh, and was there anywhere else she wanted to go while we were out? No, she just wanted to go home. Got her home, and then by the time I got home -- it wasn't raining!

It's not even noon yet -- maybe I can salvage the rest of the day!!! Then I remember I had told Chuck I would make spaghetti for dinner. Okay, I can get the sauce started later. :-)

I was able to sit and stitch for a couple hours!!! I finished a little project I was working on, and started another little bit to go with it! Tomorrow is going to be a 'finishing' day! Even if it's still raining, it won't matter! Son Rick went to Hobby Lobby for me, and got an Eyelet Kit, and a wooden box. Okay, I asked for a square box, and he got a rectangle one. I'll keep the one, because it is just cool, but, he said he would look for a square one, as I showed him what I wanted to put on it. It's pretty neat that I can send him for stuff like that. (His mother has trained him well!!)

I finished LHN Rose Sampler on Saturday, but, haven't pressed it yet, or thought of a way to 'finish' it. That is what I picked for the SAL on the LHN Yahoo group. I was thinking of a needleroll, but, I didn't give myself enough fabric on the ends, so maybe a flat fold. I have the Sunflower one I want to stitch up also. :-)

Amy has received her Seasonal Winter Exchange, so I can share pictures of that! I made a needleroll, and included some other items with the same snowflake design.

M Designs
Reindeer Needle Roll
28ct. Christmas Red Linen w/DMC fibers

She said she liked all the stuffs! This was a fun one to put together. I have one more Season to stitch for Amy. I'm thinking pink owls for Spring! LOL (Just kidding!) I have already started the Spring one.... I have really enjoyed this Seasonal Exchange.

And, I also sent out a few packages to some blogging/Internet/exchange friends. (I hope I can call them friends). They have been very understanding this past year of things I have been going through, and I just wanted to send a little 'thank you for being my friend' giftee. I stitched up a fob, and knitted dishcloths, and got the marking pins from my sister, Reee. (she makes them). They seem to have been well received. :-) Thank you, my friends...
(I had little notes to go with them, and after getting home from the post office, noticed them on the table... Please know they are sent with thoughts from my heart.)

For Becky:

For Vonna:
For Cathy B:
For Leila:
For Sharon:
For Carol S:
For Jenna:


I wanted to post pictures of my progress on a few things, but, the sun hasn't been shining. Maybe I will turn all the lights on in my craft room tomorrow and try to take pictures anyway. I don't mean to blow my own horn, but, did I tell you all I knitted a vest? Well, I did, and I finished it! I love it, and even my sister, Reee, the knitter extra-ordinary, was impressed! I promise to get pictures soon!

I think that's enough for now.... I'm going to make promise to myself to try to blog regular, and keep up on my blog reading! Oh, and keep track of my stitching better! LOL

Thanks for reading, and all your wonderful comments! I appreciate you all...

Exchanges Received & Camp Stitchalot

Hi All...

I received two wonderful exchanges! One was the Tea Time Exchange from Judith... She made this awesome Tea Box, and included a box of fruit teas! I love it, and had to keep an eye on this as my sister also thought it was very cool!



And, I received the Winter Exchange from Carol S.! Isn't this fob just the most darling! She also spoiled me with lots of goodies and sugar free chocolate! (they are not in the picture -- Gone!) I took my new fob and scissors to Stitch Camp and showed it off to everyone! (And ate the chocolates!)



And.... I went to Camp Stitchalot in Davison, MI. This is sooo much fun! I stitched up my nametag, (note the three black cats on mine!) and ones for my friends Daryl and Cathy, and then my sister Ree, who designed the nametag, said she hadn't gotten hers done, so, I stitched one up for her too! I finished them into pockets with cording, that hangs around the neck.



Camp is put on by Deb of Stitches 'N Things, and I think this is the eighth year I have gone. It is really like a reunion for a group of us that go every year. We email all year, but, it sure is great to see my 'Stitchy Sisters' for real hugs once a year! Here is a picture of our Stitchy Sister group... with the exception of five, I think, that weren't able to be there this year or missed the picture.


I took a class with Betsy Stinner. She is just the sweetest lady! The class this year was Amish Basket Stitching Smalls, and even included the little basket! (This is not my set... it is the picture on the chart.)



Bets always has such an interesting talk during the class, and this year was no exception!

Other than getting some stitching done, there was a lot of laughter and chatter!

Me and Betsy (she was leaving to head home... I think Reee took this picture.)



Me and my big sister, Reee:


I sent out a mess of packages on Tuesday, so am just waiting for them to arrive, so I can post pictures of them. I hope they are well received....

Until later... Here's hoping that Spring arrives soon!!! (It's snowing, again!!)

Thanks for reading, and your comments... they are much appreciated!

SBQ - 2/26/08

What is your cross stitch weakness? (i.e., What do you have to have
when you see it, even if you are supposed to be on the Wagon?)

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2008/02/sbq-stitching-weaknesses/


So many to choose from!!! I am a fabric junkie -- but, I think it would be anything with an alphabet. I have a definite weakness for those samplers, but, then again, it might be 'smalls' (i.e. scissor pockets, fobs, cushions).

New Pictures

Here is a little update on my Quaker Mystery. I am now thru page three, and working on four... the next pages come out today, so, if I can be almost caught up, I will be happy!

*****
And, I had mentioned I wanted to start the other mystery.... Well, I did! Papillon Creations "How Does Your Garden Grow?"


I am using a 32 ct. linen silk - antique white, with GAST fibers Dried Thyme and Tea Rose, and MH beads. I love the way this looks! I wonder what the next installment will be!

*****
And, as for knitting.... Do NOT try to knit a diamond lace pattern when you don't feel well! At least it was only a dish cloth, and not something major! Of course I did not notice until I was almost done! I did not rip it out... it's for me anyway, as I wanted to learn that pattern.


*****
I am making progress on the shawl thingee... but, I have metal needles, and they are cold!


*****
I did pick up some yarn to knit a vest. The yarn is named 'Blueberry Pie' and is a mixture of blues with some purple. Pretty.


*****
I got my exchange partners name for the Tea Time Exchange on the SBEBB. Now to find the perfect thing to stitch... I spent some time this morning looking over her blog, and have a few ideas.

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I am so far behind in my blog reading... I hope you will all forgive me if I just clear all and start over. It says I have something like 1000 unread posts!! I am going to mark them all read, and just start over. I know I have missed some good stuffs, but, it is just overwhelming, and I don't know where to start.

*****
Thank you all so much for reading and your comments... they are much appreciated!

Part two....

Here is a little picture of my Quaker Mystery Sampler thru page two:

It is coming along nicely, and I am working on page three. Page four has been released, so I hope to catch up before too long!

It is cold outside!!!! I feel sorry for the kids walking to the bus stop this morning. I was hoping to just stay inside and stitch or knit for two days, but... Mom needs to go to the doctor this morning about her wrist. (She fell and broke it on January 2, and I have been the 'driver' for her.)

Oh... and what am I knitting? I had a friend send me a pattern for a shawl like thing. It is on the Joann's web site. Knitted Shoulder Blanket
I am not knitting it in their suggested yarn --- big surprise there! I picked Lion Brand Homespun in Harvest. It is picking up a nice Autumnal variegation in the pattern. If the sun comes out today, I will try to get a picture of my progress. It says it is a weekend project. Well... I must have too much to do on the weekends, because I have been at this for about two weeks, and don't even have the first panel done! My sister tells me I am too tense a knitter.... She finished up the baby blanket for my daughters friend, and told me she could barely get the yarn to slide off the needle! And I thought it was just the yarn I picked out that was the problem! So... I have been trying to be more relaxed while knitting. I don't seem to have the same problem with the dishcloths.... maybe I just like the cotton yarn more. I did finish the January dishcloth. It was a football! I didn't start the mid-month one, but, might do that soon.

I signed up for an exchange on SBEBB. It is the Time for Tea. I have all kinds of ideas for this one.... Now to wait for my exchange partners name. I am trying to decide if I want to sign up for another one. I need to keep my exchanges manageable! LOL

Oh... and the Yahoo LHN group is having a SAL on the new chart "Brave Hearts". I have the chart, but, not the 'called for' fibers. I need to go up in the fiber stash to see if I have fibers that will work. I really am trying to keep to my stash diet!

And, some of my Stitchy Sisters are going to be stitching the new mystery from Papillon Creations "How Does Your Garden Grow?" I want to also, so, I guess I will be in the stash a little longer than planned! LOL

Thank you all so much for reading and your comments! They are much appreciated!! Stay warm!

Stitching Update

I've been stitching!!! Can you believe it? I've finished the stitching on my Winter Exchange... Just need to get it all together to mail. And I've been alternating two other projects.

This is my progress on LHN The Friendship Tree. I started it on January 1, 2008. This is on a 28 ct. linen with DMC

and this is part one of the 2008 Quaker Mystery. http://wiehenburg-blog.de/ This is on a 32 ct. linen with DMC #105


Oh... Cheryl did receive the LHN Exchange I sent out... I made the design from the JCS Issue into a pinkeep, and included some extras....


Not much else to report... I have been knitting a little and also reading. If I'm not at work, I tend to stay home and hibernate in the house during winter.

Thanks for reading and your comments... they are appreciated!

Happy New Year!

To all my friends in blogging land.... Only good wishes going out to all of you!

Are any of you starting new projects tomorrow? I shouldn't be, but, I'm going to! I've kitted up the lovely chart I received from Carol -- LHN "The Friendship Tree", and will be starting that! I do have to figure out how to change one of the cats to black.

One thing that I do want to do in the next year, is clean out and stitch from my stash. I have so many lovely things, I think I will really limit the new items I purchase. (That will make DH very happy too!) I'm off work until Thursday, so hopefully can update on my stitching progress!

On the needles: Baby Blanket -- gave to my sister, Reee, to finish for me!
In the hoop: Winter Exchange Project (shhh -- it's a secret right now!)
Current Read: Debbie Macomber "Rainy Day Kisses"

Merry Christmas!

Just wanted to wish all my blogging friends a Very Merry Christmas!

More Exchanges!

Here is some more pictures of Exchanges!

This is the beautiful USEBB Eye of the Needle Exchange I received from Goldie. I had admired this piece earlier in the year, and now I have one of my own!



And -- she included all these goodies! Thank you sooo much! I love it all!



Here is what I sent Carol in the USEBB Eye of the Needle Exchange. She was very understanding, as I was very late in sending!



And... here is my SBEBB LHN Exchange from Su!!! I tried to take a creative picture like Su does, but, somehow it just doesn't work out! LOL I love the needlebook, and Su also included goodies!




When I know that my SBEBB LHN Exchange has been received, I will post a picture of that one. (I was late sending that one out too.)

This is an ornament I made for our Office Ornament Exchange. Every year we exchange ornaments, and this year I made one! The recipient seemed thrilled with it!



Here is my silly Shadow trying to get warm on the register!



And this is something a friend sent me, and it just struck my funny bone today! Probably because our Produce Manager would give Frosty a look just like that! LOL


I hope you are all ready for the Holiday! I just have some wrapping to do! The last package I was waiting for was delivered this afternoon. (I did a lot of shopping online this year.) I had taken my Mother shopping on Tuesday, and picked up all the 'little' stuff. If I forgot anything... they are not getting it this year! or, I'll pick it up at work...

Hugs and Stitches... Thanks for reading and your comments!

In the hoop: Exchange stitching
On the needles: Baby Blanket
Current Read: Captive Star by Nora Roberts

Autumn Seasonal Exchange

Carol is my Seasonal Exchange Partner, and all I can say is -- she spoils me rotten!!!

Look at the wonderful goodies I received:

This beautiful wooden box:


Check out the inside:


And just a box full of goodies!!!



I am thrilled with it all, and I told Carol I wanted to stitch up the lovely LHN design as a sign of our growing friendship! (I hope!)

And, Amy posted that she had received the Exchange I had sent....


I have my LHN Exchange and my Eye of the Needle Exchange to post... but, will not overload you all at once!

Thanks for reading, and your comments....

Hugs and Stitches...

It's Winter!!!

Yes, here I am... I know it's been a long time since I posted! I'll try to do regular updates from now on. I really need to get my life back together.

Here is a couple pictures of what we got this weekend! (My son drove me to work on Sunday morning in his 4-wheel drive Jeep. Good thing -- I never would have made it out of the drive in my van! It was a total white-out at 4:30 in the morning, and I think we were the first to venture out on the roads!)


And here is a picture of our Christmas Tree. Becca put up the decorations and everything this year. I just couldn't bring myself to do it. My MIL made the beautiful tree skirt. She is being terribly missed during the holidays.


I've been doing quite a bit of reading... nothing to take note about, and I finally started to stitch again! I am working on a little needleroll design, and then maybe I can take care of some UFO's. (They were WIP - but, after this long they must be UFO's!)

Going shopping with my Mom in the morning. She wants to go to the mall, and I don't want her to go alone. Hopefully it will be a short trip!

Until next time.... Thanks for reading, and your comments!

Hugs and Stitches....