February Stitch from Stash Report

I did okay for this month.

Running balance:         $6.95
February amount:      $25.00
Spend:                       $19.00
Credits for finishes:    $0.00

Total is:                    $12.95


I am still in my budget! Two months in a row! Whoo-hoo!  I bought these two patterns:

 The Witches of Booville by Stoney Creek was $7.00.  It is a used pattern and I couldn't resist it. The witches are cute.

I got Nora Corbett's Geranium Pixie.  I love her colors.  I want to get her fabric soon but I might wait into April or do her on a white.

 I have to get a business suit for interviews.  I am now looking for part time job.  I need to look the part.  My class is doing Mock Interviews in ten weeks. The Career Director, who oversees all the career centers on all campuses, will be doing the interview.  The teacher wants us to have the full experience of being interview.  So nervous thinking about it now but it will be a good experience.

I have been stitching on my SAL, Fleurs de Ciel. I am still on page 1.  I know I will finish page 1 this weekend, but I do not think I will be done with page 2 by March 10.  I am hoping I can still get the next pages.  I will send her a message next week.

I am so happy March will be here in a couple days.  I am so tired of the cold.  One morning, last week, it was a -5 degrees!  Without the wind chill! When it hits the 40s and 50s, it is going feel so nice!  I can not wait! But we do have some more of that white stuff on Sunday into Monday morning.  I hope I can go to school still.

I hope everyone enjoys the next couple weeks.  I will try to put up another update on my Fleurs when I get to page 2.  Thank you for stopping by and reading my blog.

Until next time,
Vicky

First term over and One year Anniversary!

I survived my first set of final exams.  Two more sets of finals (terms) and I graduate. I passed and did alright.  One exam I aced but I do not know my score yet.  I did get a 87 on my Anatomy exam and my final grade is 94.  I got an A in First Aid and CPR, plus I am certified for CPR now too.  Monday starts the new term.  I am looking forward to a fresh start.

I did not stitch every day this past week because I was studying for the exams.  I did catch up on my new starts for Debbie's Ultimately Crazy Stitching Challenge on yesterday.  The following pictures are 7 new starts.

 LHN Calendar Girls-October

 Panko Costumes Through the Ages

This is going to be huge!!!  The finish will by 35 x 26 inches.

 Stoney Creek Joyful Owls

 Lizzie Kate At Our House

 LHN Calender Girls-June

 Halloween Hoots by Ursula Michaels

Ivy by Nora Corbett

The fabric is upside down in the picture.  

This is me on January 14, 2014

Me on January 16, 2015.

I went to the see the nurse from the surgeon's office.  I celebrated my first surgery anniversary.  I had lost 70 pounds this past year.  I am very proud in what I had accomplished.  My life changed so much this past year and all for the better.  I have more energy and I do not mind going for walks or doing chores.  I like doing them now because I do not get so tired very quickly.  I can do stuff.  I love to go walking and I will continue to do so when the weather is a little warmer.  I know I could have done better.  I can make a whole bunch of excuses but in the end, it was me who made those wrong choices.  I am being hard on my self and have been told that many times, but I am the only one I answered too.  I am the one that I have to take of so I can live a long life.  Before my surgery, I was heading to an early death. Now, there is big chance I can live a longer life and do more traveling and exploring this world I want to do. I need to loose more weight to enjoy these activities.  I won't loose the weight if I continue to make the wrong choices.  I would never regret having this surgery because I am living a life now and before I wasn't and for that I will always be grateful.  

I will be back next week with more starts. 

Hugs,

Vicky

Autumn, Stitching and Stash

It is November and in two months it will be a new year.  Anyone started their Christmas shopping? Not me. I am one of the weird people who likes the crowds and shopping in decorated stores.  One of my favorite things for Christmas.  Funny thing is I will be stitching Halloween for the next few months.

I did finish page 4 on the Fright Night Friends and on page 5.  I just finish the sign last night, all Kreinik thread.  Kreinik and I are just barely getting along, and as soon as I am done, the next time using the Kreinik again will be too soon.  I hate DMC Light effects more than Kreinik.  I have another sign to put on under the shoes and the E will stitched next week. I know I will finish it this year.  I want to do the Christmas banner too, but I think I will wait a couple months before starting that one.

I am doing this lovely sampler from a French designer, Jardin Prive.  I didn't show the first part so the above picture is part 1.  I am stitching it on a  6 inch stitch band.  It is a little tricky  to stitch on it by the edges.  I love the color of it but I notice under the lights in my kitchen, where I sometimes stitch, parts of the band gives a "dirty" look, like car grease was spilled on it through out the band. I know it is the lightening.

Last night, I finished part 2, just in time, since part 3 came out this morning.  I have decided to redo the hearts and flowers. The pinks are very light and almost whitish color.  I had order the threads this morning and when they come in, I will frog and restitch them.  There are mistakes on this section too, but they are spacing mistakes and I can't tell the difference.

 I got some lovely new stash this past month.  My friend, Karin, rak'd me these lovely gifts, Christmas mittens ornaments, a Christmas card magazine and some variegated threads.  I love the  gifts and I know I will be stitching from a couple patterns soon. Thank you Karin!

 I had signed up for the Kustom Krafts Stitch A Long and I am stitching Autumn Encounter.  I admit I haven't touch it in a couple weeks (no update) but will be working on it this weekend.  I was one of the winners in last months raffle and I was allow to pick a pattern from their site.  I fell in love with this tiger, called Blue Eyes. I am not sure when I will get to it, but it will be gorgeous when I do finish him.

Last June, I had participated a online retreat with one of my Yahoo groups.  I had won a prize was told I could pick 2 patterns from the X'x & Oh's site.  I picked Big Trouble and Shall We Dance.  It was the perfect treat for this stitcher on Halloween.  Thank you Vickie!

On the 15th every month, Nora Corbett releases at least one new pattern . The Mirabilia Minions (which they like to be called), stay up late to 1 am to see the new pattern.  Then the next few days, the talk is about what is the perfect fabric and who can get the pattern first, etc.  If I am awake around 1 am, I will check out the new patterns, but I usually don't go out right away to buy it.  When this mermaid, named Azure, came out, I said it was pretty but I can wait. so I thought,and when a friend, who model stitched Azure, showed some close ups of the model.  What I saw were beads and bling which I didn't see when seeing the whole picture.  My heart literally fell in love with her.  I actually had a physical feeling of my heart falling.  Needless to say, I brought the pattern and beads but will be getting the threads and fabric in a couple weeks.  I know when the rest of the stuff comes in, I will be stopping the rest of my stitching, because I want her on my wall.
 I will leave it here for now and leave you with some more Autumn scenes in Southeast Connecticut.

 This one was taken from the highway we were driving on.  My aunt stopped on the side for a minute and I snapped a few pictures.  We actually felt the bridge sway as the cars were whizzing by.

 This one is when the sun was blazing on the trees at sunset.

Love the blue sky!

Have a great week!
Until next time,
Vicky

Update and A Finish

 Here is my update on my Fright Night Friends for Week 7.  My goal this week is the second L and the sign post. I didn't stitch on it today which is Monday.  I was finishing up on Paws. I was  so close to finishing it, I didn't want to wait until Thursday to finish it.

 Paws and Stripes

by Stitchy Kitty Designs 

28 count even weave dyed purple by me

Recommended DMC threads and added white beads

This took me longer than I expected. One of the reasons is I have been getting headaches recently and been a little tired in the afternoons.  This summer is better than last year when I didn't want to stitch at all due to depression. I do need to get a button for the middle paw, but I won't show this again until I finish it into a wall hanging. I got the fabric and trimming already.

 Nora Corbett came out with a new pixie, Fairie Summer Love (FSL) and I fell in love with it. I love the greens in her dress and blue wings.  I am going to to stitch her on a Silkweaver solo I had in my stash. She will have a few stitches by next week's update.

Joann's had a 27 cents sale on Saturday. I took advantage of it, and got 95 skeins. Plus I wrapped majority of them on bobbins that night, and it took me about 6 hours. I am planning to use the skeins for FSL, Mirabila Lady of Freedom, and Sue Hillis Maps of Connecticut and Massachusetts. The maps are for my aunt. She had the patterns and gave them to me. I will be starting Massachusetts on Thursday.  I will be starting 2 new projects this week.

My dad is still in the rehab but he is doing good. We are hoping he will be home this week. It's been two weeks since his surgery. My cousin came over and fixed the dishwasher. I am very happy it works now.

Have a great week!

Hugs,
Vicky

Update and Winner

On the Fright Night Friends,  I stitched the 3 pumpkins.  The two pumpkins on the side of the middle is in Kreinik threads.  It really slowed me down. The sign below the pumpkins are 90% Kreinik.  My goal is to complete the sign this week and hopefully I can pick up speed after the sign is done. The good news is I finished page 2 and now on page 3. :D :D

I have a new start, Little House Needleworks Songs of the Season.  I am stitching the pattern on Hand-Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie Meadow. I just love the colors, a mixture of blue, green, and yellow.  This picture is half of part 1 and was able stitch this part in 2 days. Part 2 came in this past week and there is lot more stitching in that section, so that will take a little longer.

This past weekend one of my groups is having a super Stitching Weekend Challenge, which ends on July 31st.  As of Monday afternoon, I had made 2300 stitches. My original goal was 2500 but I changed it to 5000 last night.  Some of the stitches in the LHN was counted. I have a finish and a new start, my second one this week.

  Long May She Wave

by Val's Stuff

14ct  purple/pinkish aida

DMC threads 

gold beads

I will be finishing this into an ornament this week.  I will show the finish piece next week.

I started this piece last night, Sunday. It's a lot of fun. The pattern is from Stitchy Kitty.  I am hoping to finish this piece by Wednesday. I will be giving it to my friend. I don't have any fur babies but I do have a fur nephew and 2 fur nieces. I am thinking personalizing it, but not sure yet.


Are ready for the winner?  Because I am since I am done with my update.  There were only 4 that express interest in the traveling pattern.  I wrote the names on a piece of paper, shook them in a bag, and pulled a name. The winner is.....

Congratulations Meari!!!

Meari will be getting the pattern soon and she will offer it on her blog when it is ready to travel again.

Today my Dad went for his knee replacement surgery. He is doing good.  I talked to him, and despite of the drugs, he is alert and doing great. If no infections appear, he will be going to a rehab on Wednesday  to get use to his new knee.

I hope you have a great week!

Hugs,
Vicky

A Special Visitor and more Exchanges

We have a special visitor for a total 2 weeks. Her name is Mama and boy, is she a meower, lol. Her first two nights, she meow so much, my brother couldn't sleep.  Mama is visiting because she had a litter and her milk needs to dry out before she gets fix.  Than she went into heat, and with other cats in the house, her owner was not taking another chance.  With her in heat plus being put in a different home with no other cats, its no wonder Mama mewed like crazy.  She is not taking too much a liking to me, but she tolerates me though.

Exchanges

 Mare received my Summer Exchange .  I stitched her an  ornament. It is Summer by Stoney Creek.  This is the second time I stitched this pattern.  I used Caron threads for the boarder, which i got from my retreat.  I am not sure the type of thread or the name of the color, since there was no tags.  I used 14 count Grasshopper aida. I just love the color.

I, also, included Country Cottage Needleworks Beach Cottage, three skeins which goes with the pattern, and a plaque with the motto "Cats leave paw prints on your heart".  I love that saying. 

 Jody received the ornament I made for her in the Christmas in July exchange.  I stitched CandyCane Cat by Chessie & Me.  The pattern was in the 2004 JCS Ornament issue.  A few changes were made, the boarder was stitched with Peppermint Twist by Threadworx, the year was changed to 2011, and I used metallic gold for the snowflakes to give it a spark.  I included the three threads in Christmas colors. 

 

In my new group, pensandneedles yahoo group, there was a bookmark exchange.  The picture above is Dancing Fans by Joan Elliot, which I stitched for Debi M.  I would love to stitch this again but I lost the booklet the pattern was in.  The booklet was a freebie with an UK magazine. I don't remember the name of the magazine because I gave it away.  It was a lovely booklet with oriental patterns.  The picture below is the bookmark I  got from Debi M.   She did a beautiful job stitching. Thank you Debi!

 The Stiitching with Love Exchanges blog had Tea/Picnic exchange.  We had to stitched a Tea/Picnic theme, 5 items which could go with the theme, stitchy or not stitchy items and a recipe.  It was a secret partner and mine was Heather in Canada. Her package was delayed  because of Canada's  strike. After reading on the blog Heather did get the package, I can finally show off the exchange.
I stitched June pillow by Pine Mountains Design.  They are cute kits.  I picked this kit up in Cape May. I started it right away and had hoped to finish it over that weekend but it took me a week.  Life just got in the way.  I included a Bent Creek pattern, an UK magazine,sticky pads, needles, DMC threads, and evenweave material.  I sure hope she like the package.

I put in some more stitches in LK ABC Lessons.  I wont be stitching this weekend.  I am cooking for a surprise party on Saturday.  On Sunday, I am attending the party and afterwards, I am leaving for Cape Cod.  I will be there for a week.  I will be bringing Lessons, a few small projects, and hopefully the Chocolate Shoppe.  Most of you know I lost my stitching bag almost 2 weeks ago. Inside the bag was the Chocolate Shoppe I was stitching, the Oriental  booklet I mention  earlier, a couple scissors, and a book. I reorder The Chocolate Shoppe from 123Stitch on Thursday morning and was shipped on the same day, so I am hoping it will be here tomorrow.  They are very good but its cutting it close. 
I will post again soon.

Many hugs,
Vicky