Tuesday, January 31, 2012

One Nation...Showing Progress!

I planned to post this yesterday but my insomnia kicked my butt and I just couldn't. Three hours of sleep leave a lot to be desired. Then last night - got to bed at a great time only to wake three hours later and stay up another three before returning to bed! But, at least I got more sleep!

This sleeplessness does have benefits!

As of Jan 23rd

As of this morning Jan 31st

The lighting on this is just terrible (my apologies) but I tried several spots and the color just wasn't showing. btw - that is the sun shining on the lower right of the picture! Yes, the sun is out and the temps are to be in the mid 50's today (11C)! 

The stitching may have to wait on doing a few things outside - we have pampas grass that needs trimmed for spring and today would be the perfect day to do it! (No one tell Jayne I may put something before stitching!)

My family and I are planning to go to a wonderful event this Saturday! The local hospital is having a chocolate fest where we get to try at least 20 chocolate desserts, help pick the people's choice, and attend a foody auction. I think my camera my have to go along - one thing though - no suing me if you drool on your keyboard! 

Courtney and her friend are coming over in an hour and I still sit in my sweats. Must keep this short if I am to be presentable - read clothed and hair brushed! I'm off to start my day! 

Think spring may be just around the corner and I can't wipe the silly grin from my face! 
Denise

Friday, January 27, 2012

Tired of Winter!

Since I can't do anything about 
Mother Nature -

 I decided to remove the snow 
from my blog.

It might not be Spring
but I'm ready! 

The weekend is upon us
Go out and enjoy yourself.

Time to stitch! 

Monday, January 23, 2012

Needle in Hand This Weekend!

Thanks to Rob having some type of nastiness this weekend I had lots of stitching time. The poor guy was on the couch freezing when he wasn't trying to see the inside of his stomach. He doesn't get sick often but when he does - it's BAD. Since he had the living room - I took to the stitching room. (Logan stayed in his room or the basement.) At least 16 hours of stitching in two days and Sunday was a bonus with another 4 or 5.

My results -
From this on
January 16th











To this on
January 22nd (am)
By the time I finished page 4 and got a start on page 5, my orange tolerance had flown the coop. The thought of picking up DMC 918, 919, 920, 921 just made me gringe! 

So what was I to do but pick up One Nation. I looked at all of my other possible projects and just didn't have it in me to work on Santa Claus x5 or birds or snowmen/snowflakes. This project list for 2012 might have hit its first major bump. 

One Nation as of this morning. 
Sorry about the lighting - we are having rain again. The white on this just isn't showing. I managed to finish 2 stripes and one state. 

There won't be too much stitching today :( Errands call - paying property taxes (what fun), fighting with the cell phone company (even better), getting groceries (shoot me now), and then Jo-Ann's!! 

Floss for 272 Words - I have the pattern and fabric so this will be small beans compared to them. I need something like 18 skeins of floss. Had considered using the hand-dyes but at $2.25 - it just isn't in my budget for now. And the project is all lettering so it won't make that much difference. 

On a side note - today is the one year anniversary of Dad's death. If you could send a little prayer for Mom - I would appreciate it. She's been having a difficult time these last several days.

I hope today finds you healthy and happy! 
Denise 


Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Stash Enabling Alert!

Since I'm torturing Shari - I thought I might tempt all of you too. 

I tend to do some fairly large patterns. 
And I know lots of you do HAED patterns. 
Well, Mystic Stitch is having a SALE! 
Buy 3 patterns and get 4 free! 

Here's the link to my Colorful Sky. 


Cruise around the site - I'm sure you can find 7 patterns you like!

Just being your friendly enabler.
Denise 

Monday, January 16, 2012

Hanging Out at Home

I would like to welcome all my new followers! 
Thanks for stopping by and
deciding to stick around. 
I'll be to 200 followers in a heart beat.
You do know what that means - right? 
*******************************************

I finished three smalls the other day. Can't show you because - well, because I can't! lol After I finished them I went back to Colorful Sky. I now have page 3 completed. Page 4 (and a little of 5) are well under way.


Sorry about the picture - it's another cold deary day in Ohio and the only place for a photo with light was at my chair.

I got several hours in on it this weekend. We had no other pressing engagements and it was snowy/windy out. Better to stay in and stitch than venture forth into the winter ick.

Found a way to get all those stars finished. Take a few with me in when I ride my stationary bike. It takes about 5 minutes or so to fold each star. And your mind is occupied while you ride to nowhere. I'll probably regret saying this but in the last 2 weeks I have lost 7.8 pounds. Not bunches but better than gaining 7.8 pounds!

There's really nothing else new and exciting to report from my end. I'm fast becoming boring. Not working is turning me into a homebody. And with DH not working, I'm not spending on my obsessions.

Maybe by next post I'll have something fun to tell you all about!
Denise

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

This Is Turning Into A Craft Blog...

cause there sure hasn't been any stitching happen'!

I finished copying my photos! They are mounted and cropped. Now onto my mom's two large green totes. I saw them today -- not going to be an easy task.


The picture shown here in the front is the oldest one. It shows my husband's grandfather as a newborn and his great-grandfather circa 1900. The little girl in the photo on the left - me at about 4. My shirt says something about being a little stinker. The other 3 pics showing - l to r - me holding Logan at his first Christmas, the kids with us this Christmas and the four of us at Courtney's high school graduation. In total 248 pictures for the tree to date.

This morning I woke up and decided to work on the German Paper Stars only I use ribbon. These are being made for the tree of 2014. Yes, I plan my trees out that far. The tree for 2013 will have my old Hallmark ornaments (Logan asked for this one). Anyway, here's a link for directions - go here.



I did get some sewing done -- on the machine. I had mending climbing the wall - 2 pairs of pajama bottoms, a pillow case, and son-in-love's quilt. All finished and done. Promise tomorrow will find me stitching!

Have a great night!
Denise

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Copy, Adhere, Crop, Label, Punch Hole and Repeat!

Yep, that about sums up my last week. I'm working on my Christmas decorations for my next tree.


I've gone through my aunt's photos. I've gone through my albums and still have 4 to copy from (5 albums finished). I've copied photos from my MIL. AND still I have my Mom's totes of pictures to go. As of right now I have nearly 160 pictures copied and mounted! 

Friday afternoon I sat down to pare my list of photos down. No more than 30 per album - harder than it sounds. And Rob walks in with a tote from his mother's. I stopped what I was doing and we attacked her tote. At 11 pm - after 8 straight hours of looking at photos and doing my thing. I was done with hers. 

Saturday I worked 5 1/2 hours. I swear this has become my part-time job. Oh and the money invested in this little adventure! At least 6 ink cartridges and 500 sheets of 4x6 paper. The reason for so much paper - as I found pictures I liked but didn't want on the tree - I had to copy those too! And I printed nearly 100 pictures from this Christmas.

I have pulled a few stitches. Not many - only when I've been out of ink or paper. So today will find me once again in front of my printer pulling picture from albums! 

Just talked to Rob and we are making pancakes and bacon for breakfast! Yummy - I haven't had bacon in ages. 

Keep stitching to make up for my absence! 
Denise

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Near Year and a Surprise Give Away!

While cruising the blogs this morning I came upon Maggee at Stitching Devotee. She had won a PIF give away. It inspired me to go back a few posts and pick someone who had commented.

And I picked Catherine from Bramblewood Stitches! Here's what I am sending her ~

Cherry Tree Inn by LHN, 5 ornament size pieces of 28ct linen,
an ort  keeper, small bottle of Gloves in a Bottle,
and a small flower frog.
If you would rather have the linen in 32ct - I can switch that out for you. Happy New Year Catherine and thank you for commenting!

Last night I learned to call ahead at our favorite restaurant. While on our way I made the phone call requesting seating only to hear the hostess tell me we would have a 4 1/2 HOUR wait! That would have been after 9pm for dinner. We took the chance they would let us in. The first pass through their parking found no spaces at all. We ran over to Best Buy and then tried the restaurant again - an opening! They let us in and we got a seat at the bar after a 10 minute wait. The food was wonderful and the service was outstanding. One thing about setting at the bar - quick refills. We were home by 8pm.

Our festive evening concluded by watching Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives until 11:45. Then we switched to Dick Clark and had a kiss at midnight. I was in bed at 12:08. Yep, a wild night - dinner and tv. lol

Hope everyone had a safe and joyous time last night. Here's to 2012 finding us all happy, healthy, and stitching!
Denise

ps - Is anyone else watching Candy Spelling selling the Spelling Manor on HGTV tomorrow afternoon? I can't wait!