Cape Cod and a Finish

I had went to Cape Cod for a  week.  Before I left, I went to my sister's surprise birthday party.  She turned 40 this year.  Her husband put it together and he did a good job, considering he doesn't plan parties. He asked me do some cooking for the party.  My sister was surprised.  Anthony, my nephew, made a birthday hat for her. Unfortunately, the hat was too small and my sister couldn't keep it on, even with bobby pins.  A picture was taken with the hat on her head.  My other sister came down for the party and I got a ride from her to the Cape. She lives in Falmouth but I stayed with my aunt and uncle in East Dennis.

The first day it rained all day.  We went to the movies and saw Sarah's Key.  It was a good movie but sad too, because it was a storyof the Holocust.  Aunt Terri was visiting Aunt Betty and Uncle Fred, so came to the movies too.  Even though it was beautiful, AT and I just went to the grocery store and I stitched.  Wednesday AB,AT and I went to Sandwich, to the glass museum.  Glass blowing is very popular at Cape Cod, though the sand can't be used for glass making.  There is too much minerals, and the sand needs to melt at 3,180 degrees Fahrenheit.  There was a demonstration on glass blowing and the glass blower made a tiny pitcher. She couldn't guarantee it will survive the cooling process.  
After the museum, we went to Marshland.  It is a diner and bakery. I had fried clam strips with onion rings, which I wanted for a long time. I can't find good fried clam strips in Connecticut.  On Friday, we went to Chatham and drove by the lighthouse and a monument, I think is dedicated to the Coast Guard.  Rest of the day was shopping and I stopped at a bookstore called The Yellow Umbrella. It was small but packed with books.  We found a Ben Franklin store.  It was the only store I found DMC threads.  I tried to find a LNS, but the ones I found on the Internet or phone book end up being closed.  Saturday we went to see One Day with Anne Hathaway. I love Anne Hathaway. This was a sad story too.  I picked both movies out too.  Maybe my aunts wont let me choose next time.  On the last day, we went to the beach, but to Lake Scargo and not to the ocean.  I am not a good swimmer and I prefer the lake.  My sister joined us at the lake.  She was suppose to sleep over Saturday night. She went to Boston to do an errand with a friend that was suppose be a couple hours but end up being all day. There was ducks too and walk near to us, looking for food. AT and I headed back to Connecticut the next day. You can see more pictures from Cape Cod here.

I own a HUGE apology to my secret penpal. I had joined a secret pen pal exchange on Seasons with My Mind blog.  I did not post right away I received this lovely letter .I am very sorry. I promise I will do better in September.  I can't wait to get the next one.

I finished Summer is Sweet by Waxing Moon Designs.  I used the DMC threads on 14  count aida. I had joined a new group, January Crazies 2012.  It is the one where you start one project each day for the first 15 days, then you have    the rest of the year to finish the projects.  Since I have quite a bit patterns, I don't have to buy the patterns, just som fabrics and threads.

This tray I got at Goodwill.  It is in very good condition.  It was priced at $4 but I got it for $2.  Isn't that awesome?!  I don't like the design, but I am sure I could change it.  There are screws on the side so I don't see why I can't change it.

As many of you know Tropical Storm (a.k.a Hurricane) Irene came through Connecticut.  I was very lucky, our family didn't lose power. But some sections in my city did lose power and still out.  Half of Connecticut did lose power.  Some houses  by the shore were destroyed and a lot of flooding along the rivers. There is a lot of cleaning up that needs to be done.

I hope everyone has a good Labor Day weekend!

Friday Night Sew In~August

For the Friday Night Sew In, I stitched Lizzie Kate ABC Lessons.  It is a fast stitch.  I think it is coming along great. 

As this week, I started two new projects.  The first one is Summer is Sweet by Waxing Moon Designs.  It is a freebie I got from the retreat.  The second one is Lizzie Kate Dog Lessons for People.  I am stitching this one on my hand dyed pink evenweave. 

The two pieces above are pieces of material I had dyed.  The first piece is sprayed paint in green apple and fuchsia.  I love how it came out.  I am going to use it for my Owl SAL, when I start it, hopefully soon.  The second  piece is painted with a pink shade of acrylic paint.  The pictures are not great.  It is the same piece I am using for Dog Lessons, and that picture is more to its truer color.

I am at Cape Cod and heading to the beach. I am leaving home tomorrow so I will have another update in a few days.

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

Couple Exchanges, Few Finishes and the Shoppe

 I received a couple exchanges I had organized in the ILCSing yahoo group.  This is the Christmas in July exchange, which came from Sue. She stitched a SanMan snowman, which is so adorable. She included three hand-dyed threads in Christmas colors. I can't wait to add this snowman on my tree.  Thank you Sue!
The next exchange is the Summer exchange from Berly.  She stitched a patriotic coaster, which I love, and added Bobbie G. A Tweety Happy 4th, Lizzie Kate Summer ABC's and Summer Basket, an angel charm, and several packets of a peach drink. I can't wait to start the birdhouses. Thank you Berly!

I had to finish Liberty Belles in a wall hanging.  It is not perfect but I like how it came out.  The mistake I made, if you are wondering, a row is missing on the Belle on your right.  I was suppose to put a white  stitch between the hands and sleeves. When I realize what I did, it didn't make a difference at all. The Belles  are hanging on my wall.  I really shouldn't put anything on my walls since I am going be painting them in a couple months.  Well, my aunt and brother are doing the painting.

While I was doing the finishes for the Belles, I decided to finish a couple Christmas ornaments, which I stitched them last year.  I can't wait to put them on my tree.  Is it almost the holiday season?
Here is my progress on the Shoppe.  I stitched it on Sunday as I watch True Blood and Extreme Chef.  I am still stitching my exchange and hoping to get back to the Shoppe by Friday.

I did stitch on my exchange today but not yesterday.  I just did not get to it. I have a dentist appointment tomorrow.  I am getting partial dentures for my top front teeth.  The teeth are gone, now its time for the impressions part.  Thursday I have an eye doctor, for a field test and pick up my new glasses. Friday I am going to the mall and stitch, and Saturday,  our new stove is coming.  

Have a great week!
Many hugs,
Vicky

Friday Night Sew in July 22

I participated in the Friday Night Sew In this month.  I was going to stitch my Fairy Dreams.  However, my LHN/CCN yahoo group is having a Cake SAL.  I really want to do the CCN cakes but I will be going off my challenge in my The Stitcherhood yahoo group.  I decided to do the LHN Chocolate Shoppe.  I had got the pattern last year plus the material and the floss.  Since I want to stitch this design for awhile, it didnt make since to buy the CCN Cakes at this time and have to start my challenge all over.   I am stitching with a hoop instead of my q-snaps. All of my q-snaps are in use, which is  telling me to finish my projects before starting a new one.  The next two pictures is my progress, with the first one stitched on Friday and the second stitched on Saturday.  I will be stitching on this later today.  I got to finish an exchange and stitch on my LK for a few days before coming back to the Shoppe.  Have a nice week!