August Update

I am finally doing a stitching update. I finished Star Spangled Garden by Country Cottage Needleworks at the beginning of the month.  I loved stitching this piece. I end up changing the blue and red threads to DMC 312 and 498 threads.  The originals threads were too light against the fabric and I wanted a darker color. The fabric is a Silkweavers solo.  I got the pattern at The Silver Needle, while I was in Tulsa, OK.

I spend my birthday gift certificates at 123 Stitch. I was going to get a yard of fabric but some patterns were just calling me.  I got 2012 Halloween special issue, Lizzie Kate Mystery Sampler part 1, and Little House Needleworks Spring Band Sampler, The Mercantile, and Old Nantaucket patterns. While I was on my vacation, I got the pattern Little House Heart of America from Judi. She  had finished her piece earlier this year and offered the pattern.

I had signed up for a Lizzie Kate round robin  in my ILCSing group. I decided I was going to send the 6 Fat Men.  I got the patterns, and picked a nice blue fabric in Virginia. I got the copies, threads and stitched Snow Friends. I started doing the borders and I kept making mistakes where the borders will not line up and I will be half a stitch off.  It was driving me nuts. The fabric is 32 count linen, not an even weave and I have to admit I am having problems seeing the holes at night. So I am giving up my morning reading to stitch on  6 Fat Men. I  end up sending some Christmas snippets for my RR.  I did get Berly's RR over the weekend so I will be stitching hers this week.  This is 6 Fat Men as of last night:

This morning I frogged and started on Snow House.

Last night I picked up one of my UFOs:  LHN Pumpkin Hollow.  I had finished one third of the pattern last night. I had majority of the top done and I had to frog the lettering below it because the border was off by a stitch, but that is part of the middle of the design. Before picture:

My progress from last night's stitching.

When the olympics started, I started a new project but I only worked on it for one night.  I have to find some time to work on it more.

It is Little House Coming to America.  I am stitching on Silkweavers Summer Winds. I just don't have enough time.

Thank you so much for reading my post and for any comments you may leave behind. I love reading them and they brings me inspiration to continue my stitching.  I will try to post after my Labor Day weekend.  I can't believe the summer is almost over.  Have a great week!

Colorado Springs, Tulsa and Virginia

This update is way over due.  I meant to do this a couple weeks ago. I have been down in the blues and I don't understand why, and when I think  I am getting out of it, I go back into it. Today I decided to post about my trip. I took the Greyhound  to Colorado Springs. I got to Columbus, OH and found out they had changed schedules on June 2 to accommodation  their summer schedules. guess what? It was June 20, which meant I did not make it to my transfer in Indianapolis. My schedule was changed to where I had to switch buses at truck stop.  I got to Pueblo, CO on time but the next bus was 3 hours late.  I was 45 minutes away.  When the next bus came, it was almost full but I got because I was getting off at the next stop.  The bus didn't make it. It overheated right outside Colorado Springs. Vickie H picked me up at this diner with Meari and we went straight to Ruth's Stitchery. thank you Vickie! I did buy Lizzie Kate Bacon Bits,  cat scissors, and Just Cross Stitch pre-ornament issue. I got to the hotel after 9 and my supper was vanilla  milkshake from Sonic. The picture above is the view from my hotel room, whom I shared with Penny and Sandy.

I was up before 7 am and Penny and I met with Karin and Meari.  We went  to a wolf center in Divide, CO at 9000 feet altitude. I did get sick on the tour and they got the golf cart for me. It was embarrassing but I did feel better  with some water.  The wolves were beautiful and are very sociable creatures.  It was very hot too and some did not want to leave the shaded area. I can't blame them.  At the end, the guide had us howl as a group. In return you can hear the wolves howling back.  It was so awesome!

For lunch, we went to Miramount Castle , a real castle built in the mountains!  We all had tea, either hot or cold.  All of us  wore Victorian hats as we had lunch.  Our server, Faith, was a sweetheart.  Here we are with our hats and than Faith.  We all liked her outfit.

left; Sandy, Karin, me, Penny, Vickie H., Meari, Mare

A few of us toured the castle.  I only saw the second floor because they only had a lift just to the second. I had my walker with me.  The first floor was a dedication to the volunteer firefighters. There were fire coats and helmets and the girls dressed up. I took the pictures but mine came out blurry.  I forgot to change the  settings.

After the castle, we went to Old Colorado City  for a bit of shopping and to stop by Holly Berrys, which was more a knitting store. I didn't take much  pictures of this area.  I was tired and it was a hot day. we  head back to the stitching room for a hour or two.  We went to Hobby Lobby for sandy needed a skein and Vickie wanted some bobbins.  We went to Texas Roadhouse for supper, than back to the hotel for Meari's class on flat ornament and cording. No one finish  the ornament at the retreat. I still have to finish mine.

Saturday was more of a relaxing day. I opted to stay at the hotel.  It was hotter that day than the day before and I couldn't see myself walking around Cripple Creek with it being that hot.  I visited with Mare in the morning and met with Meari for lunch.  We had to eat from the market because the restaurant was close. We were having lunch when we discovered about the wildfires that was happening in the area.  We went to the stitching room to stitch and watch  the headlights from the wildfires.  Mare finished her stitching and she gave me the  pattern.  Here is a picture  of Sandy.

There  was a pizza party after the ladies  came back with rotel cheese dip.  We pick out the patterns we wanted from the designers who send patterns to the retreat.  I, also, brought home 2 frogs. One of them  was for the most frogging and the other one being the last one to frog. I had stitched Lavender Blue on the bus for the 2 days I was on the bus.   I discovered I was off by 2 stitches and everything I  stitched had to come out.  I was so aggravated that I end up snipping the fabric.  It is not bad and I can still stitch on it still by using some interface. Unfortunely, I have not been back to it. I think I will end up buying the pattern.  I took out my Enchanted Mermaid but  had frog on her too.  I gave up stitching that night.

Sunday was checkout day.  Meari had left really early.Vickie was driving back home and she took me to Tulsa,OK. She went 2 hours out of her way and I am very much appreciate she drove me.  driving through Kansas, there was a wildfire going next to the highway on the other  side.  We got to Tulsa in about 12 hours.  

I was in Tulsa to visit  my nephew, Jacob. I  hadn't seen him in 4 years.  He had grown up so much. He is into videos like a typical teenager.  He looks like his mom but he acts like his  dad.  It sure makes me believe behavior is in our DNA as well as our environment.  It was in the triple digits on the 2.5 days I was there so doing outside activity was out.  We did go to the aquarium but my camera batteries died.  I was so upset.  I have pics on my camera but I need a card to transfer them to the computer. Here is a couple that I did get on my camera and a picture of  Jacob and me.

After the aquarium, we went to The Silver Needle.  I love that store.  I picked up a couple LK patterns, CCN Star Spangled  Garden and the threads.  I wanted to get this in Colorado  but they didn't have it.  I left for Virginia and the bus ride was terrible. From Tulsa  to St.Louis, the bus was crowded and I got stuck in the back. The bathroom stunk awfully bad and the a/c was not working probably, plus it was late.  I had to buy a ticket from Philadelphia to Williamsburg, I got stuck almost 12 hours in Philly at the bus station.   I got on the right bus but the bus got stuck in traffic.  remember when  I told you the bus schedules got change, well it effected Virginia and the last bus to Williamsburg left with out me. The next bus was at 7 the next morning. I was so devasted that I burst into tears.  Those tears got me a hotel room courtesy by Greyhound.  I needed to sleep in a bed and I was so refreshed for that last hour on the bus to getting to Williamsburg. 

I stayed at my friends' house until July 19. They had went to Florida while I watched the dog and cat. They had found new homes for the cocker spinals and it was quiet with out them. I did some stitching, of course, and my finish is a couple posts down.  My friend's son drove from Virginia to New Jersey.  We  had lunch at Genia's inlaws and than Genia drove me to my sister's in West Haven. I got to spend some time with my nephew.  He made me a bracelet than charged me for it. the cost was $400for the bracelet, $170 for taxes and $2 for his time.  Of course I gave him the money but it was play money.  This is what happens when Grandpa babysits his grandson. The picture above.

  So I am leaving this post with a couple  pictures of Zoey and Piper.  thank you so much for coming to the end. I promise there will be a post on my stitching within  a week. Have a great week.

I forgot to give you the link to the rest of my pictures.  Press on pictures.

  

Getting to Know You Game

Before I left, I was tagged by 3 people at least.  I have answered the questions at least.  I will not forward any questions or tag anyone else.   Please read my answers and make and comments you might have.  




The rules are you answer the eleven questions asked you and then you tag eleven more bloggers and ask them eleven questions.  I am pretty sure I can answer the questions, and I can probably tag eleven other bloggers, but I will TRY to come up with eleven more questions to ask. So here goes...


From Cindy of Home of a Floss Junkie


1. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
Virginia
2. What is your favorite comfort food?
Right now it is bbq ribs, marshmallows and ice cream.  It changes depending on my mood and season.
3. If married how long have you been married?
Not married or have a SO
4. Are you a dog person or a cat person? 
cat person
5. What is your favorite TV show?
Grey;s Anatomy 
6. Who is your favorite actor/actress?
Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston,
7. What kind of movies to you enjoy (horror,romance,action)?
Romance comedies
8.What do you do for a living?
on disability but working on my health so I can go back to work
9. Who is our favorite designer (you can only pick 1)?
I have to pick one so I will pick Diane Williams of Little House.
10. What kind of books do you like to read?
I read romance, cozy mysteries, vampires
11. Does your DH or SO have a hobby (if so what is it)? No DH or SO, so no hobby, lol.




From Julie of Julie and Yes Dear:

1.)  Chocolate, Vanilla, or Strawberry?  (If none of these are acceptable, you must choose a flavor that is!)
Vanilla!!!  So simple and sweet
2.)  If you could meet any famous person, living or dead, and ask them one question (ONLY ONE), who would it be and what would you ask them?


3.)  What's the hardest thing you've ever done and why was it so difficult?
The hardest thing I am doing is trying to change my life.  I have been very unhappy for a long time, and now realizing how unhappy I have been, I am trying to change by trying lose weight and being more social-able to the opposite sex.


4.)  Who did you look up to as a child, and do you still look up to them today?  (This can be a parent, a rock star, an athelete, whatever.  You can also list multiple people.) My mom, because she went back to school while raising her kids and I admire that very much.  Princess Di and my aunt.  My aunt I do look up to her but as much as I did as a child.



5.)  List the pros and cons (for you, keep it personal) of what you do for a living.  If you could go back and do it again, would you do the same thing, or change it?  What would you change it to, and why?  I am on disability and would like to get off it.  I am trying to improve my health so I can go back to work.  I would like o go back to school and teach in a college or university.



6.)  What's your favorite meal?  (You can say anything in response to this, including dinner, breakfast, tea, lunch, etc.  It can be your fave meal of the day, or meatloaf and mashers.  Up to you.)  My favorite meal is ham, mashed potatoes, green peas, and cheesecake.


7.)  What's your favorite way to communicate your ideas to others?  How often to you partake of this method of communication?
 I like using my blog or chatting to my groups.
8.)  What's the nicest thing you've ever done for someone you don't know?
Giving a couple dollars to a person who was down on his luck.
9.)  What's the number one problem with the world today? Trying to keep religion and government separate.  I believe these two subjects interact with each other.  Most people believe in some sort of spiritual guide and it is personal for each one.  But government wants nothing to do with religion, but religion helps make you the person who you are and forms your believes, whether it is knowing right or wrong, or finding some source of peace inside of yourself during a hard time.  I think we need to accept our spiritual believes is part of us ans it affects everyone you meet in your life. If you are in the government, these believes are going to affect your decision making.  Trying to separate religion and government is not working.  


10.)  Do you like technology, or are you one of those people that only puts up with it when they have to?  (By tech, I don't only mean computers.  I mean smart phones and HDTV and digital radio and iPods and everything.)
I love technology.  If I had the money I would be on top of all the new gadgets.
11.)  If you could have one perfect day, who would you see and what would you do?  (Get descriptive here people.  Write a paragraph or two.)
Stitching all day and not needing sleep.  I can do this outside by not being bother by bugs.  Maybe a little reading and my meals being served to me.


 From Shelley of Shelley's Artsy Fartsy Life

1. If you were stranded on an island with one other person, who would you choose...Oprah Winfrey or Ellen DeGeneres? Oprah Winfrey
2. Which fabric do you prefer to stitch on...Aida or Evenweave? Evenweave
3. What is your favorite genre of movie and why? Romantic movies 
4. Who is your favorite cross stitch designer? Since this question is not restricted to one designer, my favorites are Diane Williams, Mirabilia, Lizzie Kate
5. What kind of flooring do you like in your home...shag carpet, hard wood or stone? All carpet expect the kitchen and bathroom, it is tile.
6. What kind of illumination do you use when stitching? natural light in the daylight and daylight bulbs at night
7. What is the farthest you have traveled from home? Colorado Springs, Colorado
8. What is your favorite brand of specialty thread? Carrie's Creations Threads
9. How many languages do you speak? (Note: Klingon is a language!)  English and little of French
10. Do you stitch in hand or with the aide of a hoop, qsnap, stand, etc? Majority time I use a qsnap or hoop.  
11. Do you believe in ghosts? Yes I do.

From Mel of Epic Stitching

1. Rain or Snow?  Rain.  I lone the sound and it is very soothing.
2. Are you in any SAL's? yes Angie's Designs.  I am doing Lavender Blue.
3. How many WIP do you have on the go? CCN Star Spangled Star, Lavender Blue, Time To Go I think a couple more but don't remember right now.
4. Do you do any other crafts other than stitching? (ie: beading, scrapbooking, knitting, etc) Sometimes crocheting and wood painting
5. Do you watch sports? Have a favourite sport? Nascar  I am a Dale Jr fan.
6. Are you active? Have a workout program, bike, run etc.? I do try to walk few times a week.  This is new for me/
7. Favourite genre of music? (ie: rock, country, blues, etc)  country and showtunes
8. What type of cell phone do you have? trac phone
9. Smallest project you've ever done? halloween ornies
10. Largest project you've ever done? Lavender Blue is my biggest but not completed
11. How long have you been blogging? since July 2008

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