I AM STILL ALIVE!!!

I am still here! My computer caught a virus, which means I have more time stitching, and boy, have I been stitching!!! I have finished Mare's and Elaine's SFE. Mare's SFE was a black cat from JBW Designs-French Country. It is the same cat I did earlier for the July block swap. I loved how it came out as a pinkeep. I just did not have enough white pins so I used a few green pins, Mare's favorite color. Elaine's SFE was a Halloween pattern from Prairie Scholer(spelling is wrong) in the Just Cross Stitch magazine. It was stitched on Olive from Sassy's Fabbys and finished as a small pillow. I used glow in the dark thread for the eyes, beak and body to glow.

I also received two SFEs, one from Sarah and the other from Elaine. They did a wonderful job! I love them and right now they are on my dresser.

I finished the Fiber Contest from the ILCS Retreat. I did the little man on yellow. I used a lot of metallic threads, which was in the box I received. He came out cute. I finished the Heart sampler from the Retreat too. I was given the color green. I think it will be given to a friend of mine, being made into a pillow. I will take a picture of the pillow when I finish it off.

I have 2 more finishes to show off. Both of them are Lizzie Kates. One is the Housework pattern and the other is Dont get Your tinsel in a Tangle. I also got an Christmas ornament but I forgot to take a picture so I will have to post it later. I am now stitching a Mill Hill ornament for my tree and I will be stitching a teacup for Vickie's SFE.


I almost forgot, I also finished a Halloween ornie and a dragon ornie for a couple members from the Phoenix Stitchers group.


A couple weeks ago, I went to my cousins's 25th Anniversary party. My cousin kept her wedding dress and it was displayed at the party. I was looking at the wedding album and saw a pic of my parents. Boy did they look so young. I told my dad and when he went to look for it, he missed it. I had to show him where it was and than he admitted he was looking a picture of him with gray hair, lol. You can guessed he had gray hair for a long time. Here is a picture of the wedding dress and a picture of Dad and me.

Exchanges and Finishes

I have been busy stitching and I also received a couple exchanges too. I got a lovely Halloween exchange for Joan. Joan is the owner of Sapphire Stitching and formed a yahoo group which I joined. The exchange came from The Phoenix Stitchers which we both belong to. This was a combination of 2 exchanges, Halloween ornament and Spooky Stash. She send me some Halloween buttons, a piece of hand dyed fabric in orange, glow in the dark floss, black floss, foamies for a Halloween Sal Joan is hosting, and a pattern from her called Pumpkin Stack. She designed it herself. She is very talented. I put a close up picture of the ornament. I just love the beads.
My second package is from my new Secret Sister from the i love cross stitch group. She send me Lizzie Kate Normal kit and the Hocus Pocus Pattern. I cant wait to stitch them. I got a Mirabilia kit of the Queen of Peace. This kit came from my angel Stitcher, Wanda J in Canada. I dont have a picture but I cant wait to start this one too. I have so much projects I wanting to stitch.
I did finish stitching Debra's SFE and its on her way. She should be getting it soon and than I can show it off. I am still waiting to hear from Viv if she got hers. She lives in England and sometimes the packages takes forever to get there. I finished the September Block Swap and Ornament too. The theme for the swap was Fall or bats. I found a cute bat pattern from Helga Mandl. I sitiched it on Sassy Fabbys Spring Green aida. The eyes is stitched with glow in the dark floss so they will glow in the dark. How cool is that! My Sept ornament is another Mill Hill and its called Believe. I love the blues and silver beads make it so wintery. I am also using it for a Blind Oranament Swap in another group. I will get another ornament in exchange. Until next time.

August Block and Ornament

I finished my August block and ornament this past weekend. The theme for August block was 'Fun in the Sun'. When I was in AR, Vickie, Karin and I went to Barnes and Nobles before dropping me at the busstation. I looked at the cross stitch magazines and found this cute pattern in Crazy Cross Stitch, an UK magazine. I stitched it on Sassy's Fabbys Bahama Blue 16 count aida.

The August ornament is a Mill Hill, called Santa's Sack from the Santa's Closet series. I loved how it came out.

Some sad news, my girlfriend and her husband lost their baby last Thursday. It was a boy and named Jacob Eugene. He will always be an angel and in all our hearts forever.

Until next time.

My First Blog Award

Thanks to KarolI have received my first award.

The rules of the award are:
1. The winner can put the logo on her blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of those you’ve nominated.

I would like to nominate the following blogs (I know some of you already got this award but I really love your blog):

1. Katie
2. Kelly
3. Mylene
4. Marta
5. Dawn
6. Kathy
7. Mare

Second Blog Award

Here are the rules:

1. Only five people allowed.

2. 4 of them have to be dedicated followers of your blog and 1 has to be new and live in another part of the world.

3. You have to link back to who gave you the award. Debra

So to honor some fellow bloggers, my nominees for this award are: (I don't know how dedicated they are but I have had comments from)

1. Amethyst Lady-Kelly
2. BW's Stitches and Things -BW
3. The Stiching Nook-Dawn
4. Rosebud's Stitching-Karol
And my new blog nominee is
5. Stitching and Stuff-Joke

Secret Sister Package

I got my first Secret Sister package today from my I Love Cross Stitch group. My SS send me 3 Lizzie Kate patterns: Sunshine Crossing, Housework Never Kills and Good Things. Plus the threads for Housework. She must have known somehow I wanted to do this one and I might start it tonight. Thank you so much!

I have to make a correction. This package came from a SS Angel. When my SS failed at her commiments on the last round, a wonderful person stepped in. I dont know who the person is but I hopefully find out soon.

Brunch, Baby shower and My mom

Today was a busy day. First I went to church for a memorial mass for my aunt. Her first anniversary of her death is next week. Since I was in the hospital last year, this was my chance to say "goodbye". I still miss her and I always remember her when I make potato salad. She was allergic to green peppers so I will put a small amount aside for her. I still want to put aside for her.
The biggest surprise for the day was when Amy showed up for the mass. I was not expecting her to come from Cape Cod. She has a new hair style, which is short and naturally curly. I am so jealous with envy. I wish my hair was like that. As you can tell I dont see my sister too often. The family went to San Marino for a brunch. My nephew was trying to get his cousin's attention by saying "Hi Debbie" and when she acknowledge him, he got all shy. It was so cute.
I went to a baby shower, a cousin's girlfriend is expecting a boy on September 26. She got some cute stuff. There was a onesie with FBI on it and underneath said Fat, Bald and Innocent. It was adorable. She got a bouncer, a chair, a stroller, and lots of clothes and washclothes. Another cousin is due February 12. She is just 14 weeks along so too early to know if its a girl or a boy.
When I got home, I got a call from my aunt, my mom's sister. My mom is getting 2 tests done tomorrow, a colonscopy and the one that goes down the throat for a look at her stomach. I know she was having pain in her stomach for a week now. I hope it is not another obstruction. That will mean another operation and she had one a year ago in September. The last time she had a colonoscopy, we almost lost her. So the whole family is really nervous for tomorrow.

On the stitching note, I did finish stitching Viv's SFE, just have to finish it and send out, which I will do this week. I am stitching Debra's SFE and than her RR, which I forgot on my list. I am almost done with my August ornament too. Just have to finish adding the beads. Hopefully by next week, I will have a picture to show.

Who reads my blog?

This was stolen from Kelly, who got it from Viv. Frequent commentors, and lurkers alike... I'd *love* to hear from you! So who reads my blog??

1. As a comment on this post, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember! And if we've never met in real life, leave me a comment of your favorite post I wrote and why it was your favorite.

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually really funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

My Insanity of UFOs

How did it happened? I am trying to do a little cleaning in my room. Everywhere there are stitching projects put aside, that either I had started or kitted and never got back to it yet. I made a list of projects I know I want or need to do by the end of the year. I did not want to do this because it will make me face what I have to do...to face reality on my stitching, which is getting so out of hand. I typed the list on the side of my blog and I came up with almost 30 projects just from the top of my head. Even as I am typing, another project popped in my head.
I am thinking I might have reached a level in my stitching that I may not have to buy another pattern or kit for the rest of my life. I cant even begin to tell you the patterns I have in my craft desk or in my closet, and I think some under my bed. Now thinking about it, I have a few UFOs under the bed. The sad thing is my groups have UFO days and you think I will reserve the day for at least one UFO but I just can not fit it in.
It seems the computer takes my time away from my stitching. Most of the day I am on the computer just reading stuff than I can do later. Majority of my stitching is in the evenings after supper, sometimes in the afternoon. It is very rare if I stitch in the morning unless its like 1 or 2 in the morning. I can understand when my friends say they do not have time to stitch because they have jobs and families to care. I do not! I should be whipping out these models in little time but I just seem to have a hard time finishing projects.
Any one have ideas what I can do?

PIF

I was chosen from Rene La Frog as a PIF receicpent. PIF stands for Pass It Forward. I will stitch something special for 3 people with the next 365 days. In return, these 3 people will stitch for another 3 people. If you want a gift from me, please leave a comment. If more than 3 sign up, I will pick 3 names out from a bag.

Family Picnic

My nephew from Oklahoma was in Connecticut visiting his grandmother, his mom's mom. My sister was able to get him for a week. He was in West Haven this past week. My sister had a picnic at her house. To make the story short, Jacob's mom left CT on bad terms with my brother and most of the family. We were told not to say a word to my brother so my brother was very surprise to see Jacob. Pictures were taken and there is one with my dad, brother and Jacob. I got another one with Gramdpa and his grandsons.






Some of other family members were there. So a group of them took a walk to the beach. The beach is down the street and my sister has a ocean view from her bedroom. They got back and my BIL cooked a couple of hot dogs and hamburgers. So when the hot dogs were done, my BIL yelled "Jordon, you're up!". Jordon, playing with the kids, went picked up the bat, thinking it was his turn to bat, and than asked "Where is the pitcher?" And no one was playing a baseball game.

I did found out our family is growing again. My cousin is expecting a baby around February. I am hoping to see her next month at a baby shower. My cousin's girlfriend is expecting a baby on September 28 and her shower is next month. With my girlfriend expecting in January, I think there might be a lot of baby finishes in the near future.

2 fFinishes and a Start

I finished my July Block swap finally. I wanted to do two but time didnt allow me. I stitched JBW Designs French Country Cat. I used Carrie's Creations Glory thread. I have been dying to use this since I got it for my birthday. The fabric is Sunburst Yellow by Sassy's Fabbys. I think the colors came out great. I will definately be doing this one again.

When I was at my closest LNS, I picked up a small kit of a Morning Glory. I stitched for my SS in one of my yahoo groups. I am showing it off because my SS has no idea I am her Sister. I had directly send her packages from a couple online stores. She will be getting her last package this week.

I finally started my Lavender and Lace Fairy Dreams. I am stitching on Joblean Wood Violet. The fabric was another birthday present and think it will be perfect for this pattern. I started in the center. So what I stitched is more the background of the Fairy. I am going to try to work on her every 2 weeks.

Welcome

This is my first post. I decided to switched over so I can add more pictures to a my blog. My current works in progress (WIPs) are Mirabilia's Enchanted Mermaid, Lavender and Lace Fairy Dreams, Mirabilia Winter Queen. I am thinking starting Winter Queen again, mainly I really dont like the fabric and I am just dragging my stitching on it.
I do get behind on my stitching. I need to finish a Celtic Knot for an exchange, a Flip flop exchange, my monthly block swap, which is going to be a patriotic cat, a Christmas ornament and Lizzie Kate design. I will have pictures in my next post.