Stitching and Stash

I am in Virginia visiting my friends.  I came here straight from Tulsa, OK.  I will tell you about my trip in the next post when I get home.  I did have a good time in Colorado Springs and got to meet a couple new stitchers.  In Tulsa, I saw my nephew and he has grown so much.  He is now 5 feet, 8 inches and wears a size 12 shoe.  When I told my sister, she texted me "Holy crap!", lol.
I finished LHN Chocolate Shoppe the other day.  There is one mistake but I am keeping it in.  The side bars are one stitch short and if you notice, the bottom of the 'p's' are touching the cross stitched line,and there is suppose to be a space.  Since it is for me, I am leaving it in.  It was stitched on Sassy Fabbys Sugared Cream 28 count lugana.  I think I will be framing it and put in my kitchen.

This is my fourth visit to Newport News and I finally got a chance to go toVirginia Beach, the home of Dyeing To Stitch.  It is about an hour away.  I took a picture of my new stash I got at Dyeing To Stitch and I spend $54  in the store.  The blue fabric is for Lizzie Kate 6 Fat Men, which is going towards to a RR I just joined.  I have to put the boarders on before I send it, but I have a few weeks.  The white fabric is for Big Toe Designs Hope building block.  I got the pattern at my retreat and plan to stitch it for my aunt.  I just found out recently "Hope" is her word.  It will make a great Christmas gift. The threads is for the pattern. Crescent colors Sugar&Spice (the main color) and Plum Paisley.

We had went for breakfast before heading to Virginia Beach and were talking about cheesecakes.  I said you have to try mine.  We end up going to Walmart first because we were too early for the LNS.  I picked up a spring form pan and called my aunt to send me the recipe.  I baked the cake and had it sit in the refridge over night.  Here is a picture of the beautiful cake.  It came out very yummy.  It sure does not help my diet. Which reminds me, I had went to get weigh in the other day at Weight Watchers and I lost another 6 pounds.  I was so surprise because I really thought I might have gained.  I am one pound away from my 5% weight loss. I haven't been walking because it has been so hot, in the triple digits and humid.

I am now stitching CCN Star Spangled Garden.  This is my progress so far as of today.  I changed the blue and the red threads to DMC 312 and 498.  The Crescent Colors I got did not go very well with the fabric I am using.  There is already a mistake but I am fudging it. I can't seem to count correctly lately.

The following pictures are the new stash I got at my retreat:

I hope you are trying to stay cool.  I will be home on July 19.  My next post will be shortly after that. 

Hugs, Vicky

Exchanges and Life!

First I am going to show you my stitching and exchanges I can show you. 

This is part 4 of Lavender Blue. I have one page for this part than I can get part 5 and 6. I am trying to finish it before I leave but my hopes are low. I think I might have had something under the frame when I took the picture cause it is a little lumpy, lol.  Believe me, the material is tight when I stitch on it.

This is the top of the box. I glued the stitched piece on it today. I now have a couple books on top of it to get the glue dried and stay put. I just realized I didn't sign the piece and I always do that. Little too late now.

This is a stitched piece from a Spring exchange from Stitcherhood yahoo group.  Isn't she adorable? And there is a cat stitched on there. She is sitting on my tv right now.  I, also, got beads in variety of colors and ribbons and lace. Thank Ann for a lovely gift!

This is Bloom by Cherrywood Designs with some color changes. The pattern can be found in Cross Stitch and Needlework issue in May 2011. I used  Sassy Fabby's Mystique thread, Carrie's Threads Passion, Gentle Art Hyacinth, Weeks Dyes Carrot, Banana Popsicle, and Emerald on antique white evenweave.  I added fat quarter fabrics, beads and floss to give to Ann in the exchange.

This is  Born Shopper.  I have been stitching her on weekends.  I did stitch more on her since I took the picture.  She is starting to form more and I had done some of the gray under the mittens and top of the scarf.  Next time you will get the update.

The pictures above is the mail art I send out to Shari. I had the hardest time stitching this piece and took most of May to stitch.  It was not my first choice. I was going to stitch apple blossoms but the frogs was having a huge party.  They are just a  huge pest.  I went with bunnies and flowers. They are from Donna Kooler's 55 Favorite Designs.  It has its character flaws but it came out cute.  It is only my second mail art I had made and my first one was very wonky. This one is neater.

This one is Little House 2012 All Dolled Up Quaker Birds ornament.  I am stitching this one over one on some rose colored opalescent 28 count fabric.  I put my pair of scissors to show how tiny the ornament is going be when finish. I am using Carrie's Threads Periwinkle.

123Stitch has monthly contest and I have been entering in it almost every month since I discovered 123 Stitch in 2003.  At the beginning of the month, I got an email from Joann stating I was one of the winners of Little House Needleworks Summer Band Sampler.  After I picked myself off from the floor, I send her my information and I got it a few days later.  Now I have to get the other three, because they are very pretty.  And Little House being one of my favorite designers, I was stoked pink for a couple days.  Thank you all of you who sent their congratulations to me on my yahoo groups.

Next week at this time I will be in Colorado Springs.  I am leaving Tuesday on the Greyhound and be in there Thursday morning. I am looking forward to the trip. There is a lot to do and I am still working on the schedule because some places need reservations for the tours.  I will have fun and going see some wolves, an old ghost town, a castle or two, and a couple LNSs. Throw in a class, dinners and swaps, I don't know if I will get some sleep, well at least not much.  Sunday I am on my way to Tulsa to see my godson/nephew, who I haven't seen in 4 years.  I get to hang out with him for a couple days. I am hoping to get to the Aquarium and to The Silver Needle store before I leave.  I will be home on Friday.   On top of that, I got a new camera. I dropped my camera and the battery lid would not close. Since that was where the memory card is too, I didn't trust the camera will save the pictures. I was going borrow my aunt's camera and she did give it to me.  Last week I was in Walmart and they had some camera on clearance for $50. I had no intention buy a new camera until I got back, but with that price, I couldn't walk away. I can do a whole bunch of things with it. 

My next post will be about my trip with lots of pictures.  Have a great couple weeks.

Many hugs,

Vicky

Stitching update

Where did the time go? It seems to be flying out of my reach lately, and I haven't done anything special.  Can it stop for a few minutes so I can catch my breath? I really have not been stitching much.  I think the computer is the collaborate, as usual,lol. Here is a couple on my works in progress:

 This one is Halloween House and you can see I did a couple of pumpkins and little of the grass. Definitely will be working more on the grass and the boarder next time I stitched on this one.

This one is Born Shopper.  She is coming along and I do like the colors.  I want to get back to her soon. I will be doing the scarf next, where the red line is and hopefully some of the white next time.

I did a couple of Disney's ornaments for a RR.  I love the fabric because it sparkles.  The patterns were a little tough to read because the backstitching was very thick and there were a few quarter and three-fourths stitches right next to the lines.  They were quick to do and did both of them in one week.  The  characters are Lady from "Lady and the Tramp" and Ariel, from "The Little Mermaid".  Lady reminds me of Ryleigh, my friend's cocker spaniel.  Ryleigh and Ginger are now living in Florida, as my friend and her husband prepares the next step in their journey of living in Korea for the next two years.

The pictures above is part of a online class I am taking with one of my Yahoo's group.  I will be putting a stitched piece on a wooden box.  I stitched "Dream" by Joan Elliot on 32 count Rocky Mountain Purple lugana fabric.  I love her patterns.  Matter of fact, her pattern "Sleeping Beauty" will be in the next Cross Stitch Gold magazine. I will be buying it.  I stained the box a Mahogany Bay color.  I will be making a couple of these boxes in the near future for gifts. This one will be going to one of my sisters.

I am stitching a mail art envelope so I can not show that one yet.  I received mine from my partner, Shari. She did a great job and included some extras, needles and floss.  A girl can never have too much of floss and needles.  I covered the information for privacy.  My father brought in the mail and handed to me saying "That is so cool!". He liked it alot.  Thank you Shari!

I had went to a ortho doctor, because my right knee keeps dislocating.  Once it does, I can't walk with out pain until the next day.  The results is severe case of arthritis and my knee cap is off.  I do have it on my left knee, too, but not as bad.  I have two options, to get a artificial knee replacement or cortisone shots, but it will be in the future.  No doctor is not going want to put me under right now and with the weight, finding my joints will be hard for the needles.  It is one step at a time right now and maybe in a year, the knee replacement will be an option.  I am doing good on Weight Watchers. I lost a total of 11 pounds, including the first 7 pounds I gained in the first two weeks.  My leader thinks I am doing great, too.  The weather had been terrible last couple weeks but today it was finally cleared up.  I will be going back to my walking and so looking forward to it. 

Thank you for reading and leaving and comments you wish to leave behind.
Many hugs, Vicky

Birthday cards and gifts, Exchange and IHSW

My birthday was this past Saturday and I turned 42 years old. I didn't do anything special with my family. No one had any money but I am fine with that. My aunt is taking me to see The Music Man being  played next Sunday at the Thomasaton Opera House.  I worked there for a couple weeks a few years ago, and it is a beautiful historical building.  I am looking forward to seeing the musical.  It is one of my favorites.

I am in a few birthday clubs in my groups. I didn't count the cards but I did get several cards and skeins of beautiful color threads.

From my Stitching Sisters group

from my ILCSing yahoo group

 The next three pictures are from ILCS yahoo group, ( a different group from above).  Some of the cards got into the pictures twice but I only got 2 same cards but from two different groups.

In my Stitcherhood group I got these lovely gifts:

From Chele LHN Coffee Menu with Crescent Colors Joshua Tree, Little Brown House,and Toasted Marshmallow and Piecemakers  Needles 26. The threads go with the pattern.

From Janet Hinzeit  Chocolate with charms-adorable!

From Tonya Country Cottage  Designs Ice Cream Sundae and Pie Menu

From  Georgena Sue Hillis Happy Stitching and  Piecemakers needles

From Ethel Brittercup Designs Haunt the Night Away and Britty Kitties IV Dmc 809, 823 and Carrie's Threads Black Cherry

???? Mirabilia Midsummer Eve's Fairy I have no idea who the gifter is but whoever you are, thank you!

From Mary Nora Corbett Lady Slipper Garden Pixie with the beads, Kreinik thread and material that goes with the pattern and LHN 2012 Quaker Birds ornament pattern.

 I also received $35 gift certificates from Carrie, Cindy and Sierra.  I will be getting some material and 11x11 q-snaps with the gcs.  Thank you so much everyone for the gifts, cards and birthday wishes.

Mixed  with the packages was my gift from the Valentine competition I won last month.  I didn't want to open any packages early and didn't know the moderator was going to send the prize from 123Stitch.  I was surprised when I read the invoice because I forgot about it. Thank you Shelley for organizing and sending me the prize and everyone who voted for me!

Lizzie Kate Think Spring, John James needles and 28 count Moss Green Lugana

Mary Louise send me a lovely card and Lizzie Kate Summer Sampler.  We have been chatting 2 or 3 times a week due to both of us on Weight Watchers.  We have been encouraging each other and chatting of our stitching. I have been enjoying our chats.

The picture above are the cards and floss I received on Monday (today).  My celebrations just continues, lol.

 I joined the Spring into Easter exchange with the Stitching with Love Exchange blog.  I sent the above to Expel of Hungary.  I stitched Lizzie Kate Spring Sampler and finished into a mini pillow. I included a Shephard's Bush Pattern, needleminder, 40 count linen, needles, threads, and fabric. I haven't heard from her yet but I do know she received it. I hope she likes everything.

Fiona send me a Easter package.  She send some beautiful ribbons, a Glendon Place free chart, the recent Cross Stitcher issue, a piece of green evenweave, Valadini threads, and a pair of green with white polka dot scissors.  Thank you Fiona!

Now on to the International Hermit and  Stitch Weekend.  It fell on my birthday weekend and I did so some stitching and here is my progress:

 I finished part  3 of Lavender Blue.  I need to finish part 4 before I get the other two parts.

 Saturday night I stitched some more on Born Shopper.  I decided to add blending filiament to the white when I get to it.  It may take a little longer but will be worth it.

I stitched a little on my Halloween House like I wanted to do before the week was up.  The picture is not great because it was a cloudy day. I am glad I stitched on this piece.   I took out my Mirabilia Enchanted Mermaid on Sunday night.  I was hoping to make progress on the face.  Well, I missed a row at the top of the face and didn't noticed it until I was at her lips area.  So I had to rip all the stitches I made on her which means no picture on her progress.  I will see if I get back to her this coming weekend, how well I do my stitching exchanges this week.

Thank you for lasting this long and reaching the end of the post.  I hoped you enjoyed reading it.  I will be posting a giveaway in a week or two.  I am still getting it together. 

Many hugs,
Vicky

Two New Starts with update

I started a new project and it is going be a big one! It is Time to Go by Witch Stitches "n Bits from  the UK.  It is a SAL I am doing  with Julie and Yes Dear. She is stitching it on Tuesdays but I am doing a 10 hour rotatio.  It is 56 pages but it is safe to say I had stitched more than Julie, lol.  She only did the first block, which is solid black.  I am almost done with the black on page 1.  The gridding helps so much and I am so glad I am doing that, but I only had gridded half of the material. I did put in 10 hours on her so I am afraid she goes back into the rotation pile. Next will be Lavender Blue.

When I woke up last Saturday, I just had the urge to start something new from the patterns I wanted to stitch this year.  So I went to my bag and peeked inside and chose this pattern:

 The picture above is the progress.  (Blogger is being mean today).  I only did a couple hours.  I had gotten up early that day and around 8 I decided it was time to get ready for the day.  I had went to Michaels to get some skeins and to the mall in the afternoon.  I wrapped up my new floss on bobbins while seating in the mall.  I know a bit weird but at least it got done,lol.

 I had signed up for the bookmark exchange from the i-love-cross-stitch Yahoo group.  I stitched Live, Love, Laugh and used a white felt for the backing.  I  loved how it came out and wishing I could keep it.  My partner must have read my  mind.

Elena send me the same stitched bookmark!  I cracked up when I saw it, knowing she will  be getting the same bookmark in a few days.  It rarely happens this way!  Elena included some teas and 2 Weeks Dyes Works threads, Morning Sky and Peoria Purple. Thank you Elena!

I won bingo, too, in the same group.  Pam send me this cute card kit and 2 floss for the gift.  It is adorable!  Thank you Pam.

I had mention I joined Weight Watchers  a couple weeks ago.  I thought I was doing good, eating more veggies and drinking water, but at my  first weight in I gained 5 pounds.  I was not adding my healthy oils or taking a multi vitamin.  It was the end of the month so buying the proper foods was tight.  The food scale I had was going bonkers, so I wasn't getting the proper reading.  The second week, I measure a bit more, added the  oil and pill, and hoped for the best.  I gained two more pounds. I was like "ARG!!" and pulling at my hair.   After the meeting, I brought a new food scale which has become my  new friend,lol.  I am constantly using it the past week.   Yesterday at my third weight in, I lost 7.2 pounds.  It made my day!  Now I am back where I started, but I now know what I need to do that works for me and I will continue doing that.

Many hugs,
Vicky