Weather, Shopping and Stitching

Weather....



You may be wondering why in the world I would take a picture of Fog. We have lived here for 8 years and this is only the 2nd or 3rd time I have seen fog in Las Vegas. After two days of rain (another rarity here) we finally had enough moisture in the air to cause fog. Sure was nice to see the rain and something other than sunshine.

Shopping...


Normally I don't venture out on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving for those outside the US) but this year I just couldn't pass up the fantastic sale at JoAnn's. I tried real hard to fill up the tote bag (a new purchase for only 80 cents with the sale). We really did have fun looking at everything and believe me I would have spent a lot less if Tracy had stayed home LOL. I got some really good bargains on beads, floss, Christmas decorations and much more. I also got a new book of crochet afghans for babies and the yarn to make "Bean" (what my daughter is calling the baby) a pretty lilac afghan. The check out line was long but went very quickly, they had every register open and they must have had every employee working the sale. All in all it was a very good experience and I can't wait for the day after Christmas sale.


Stitching...

I did it!!! I finished the stitching on the Just Nan "12 Days of Christmas". I didn't get them done until today so the finishing probably won't get done until Monday. These little guys were really fun to do but not sure I would do them again. They are only 2"x2" but have so many colors in each so that makes for LOTS of color changes. I'll be doing another set of 12 Days next year just not sure yet which one.

Date Night....

We decided it was time to celebrate our 30th Wedding Anniversary a little late. I really wanted a good steak dinner so Tracy decided we would try Outback Steakhouse and see if it was as good as we remembered. It was!!! Since I wanted to see if they had the Christmas decorations up on the strip that's where we headed. No decorations yet but the meal was worth the trip After dinner we played the slots for a while then headed downtown for coffee at Starbucks. I was too cold to sit outside and people watch so we had our coffee inside and then headed home. It was another enjoyable evening out with DH and can't wait til we do it again.

I'm going to try to get back to some of my SAL stitching now and hope to make some progress on the "Snowflake" and Celtic Spring. Not sure how much I'll get done tomorrow as Tracy wants to put the tree up and I have some major straighting up of stash todo before we can even think of the tree. Looks like tomorrow will be spent putting away charts, fabric and floss.

Until Next Time....Happy Stitching

Happy Thanksgiving

The Turkey is in the oven and just waiting to do all the trimmings. I have so much to be thankful for this year I'm going to try to remember this everyday and not just on this holiday. I want to wish each and everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving and rest of the year.

The Weatherman was Right

I can't believe it, there is liquid coming out of the sky! The weatherman has been saying we were going to get rain today and for a change the prediction was correct. I woke up very early this morning, sat down at the computer with a cup of coffee and started reading my emails. What is that sound outside, it's not time for the sprinklers to come on. Could there be a leak in the plumbing somewhere? I decided to open the door and see what's going on. It's RAINING!! You may think it's strange to get so excited about rain but when you only get a average of 4 inches in a year it is exciting to see some. We have been in a drought and haven't even got the average rainfall for several years so I'm so excited to see some and have left the door open so I can hear, see and smell it. I'll even get to go for a walk in the rain (one of my favorite things to do) when we go grocery shopping this morning when Tracy gets home from work.

Two Done....Two To Go

Almost there with the Just Nan "12 Days"! Over the weekend I managed to get two more done and I bet you can't guess which is my favorite :o). I have the border done on Day 11 and hope to be finished with the last two by the end of the week so I can put them together over the weekend.

Nine Ladies Dancing

Ten Lords A-Leaping
(my favorite if you hadn't already guessed)

The rest of this week is going to be very busy. Tomorrow will be a trip to the post office to mail off my "12 Days" Exchange for my ILCS group, Pre-Op appointment for DH (he is having Carpel Tunnel surgery early next month), out to lunch and probably a little shopping. Wednesday we will do the grocery shopping for Turkey Day (I know nothing like waiting til the last minute). Thursday, cooking, watching football, cooking, EATING, nap and holiday movies in the evening. Friday, will be joining the other crazy people shopping. I think I have only gone out on Black Friday once but I just can't pass up the sale at JoAnn's. This will also be another "Date" with DH and we plan on seeing what Christmas decorations are up and will go out to dinner.

Will update again when the last two days are done and let you know how the shopping trip/Date go.

Until Next Time....Happy Stitching

Three Finishes and a WIP

Many of you will remember the stitching frenzy I had last year trying to get the 12 Days of Christmas by The Sweetheart Tree done before Christmas and how I finished just before Christmas. Well this year I started Just Nan's 12 Days in January and planned on getting them all done early. You know about the best laid plans of mice and men, now I'm back in a stitching frenzy trying to get these done on time. This week I have finished Days 6, 7 and 8 and Day 9 is started. I'm going to keep working on them until they are all finished. Tracy cut the foam core board for all of them tonight and so there will be no excuse for me not to get them on the tree this year. If you have missed the pictures of the first 5 Days and would like to see them they are in their own album on Webshots (link to my Webshots in sidebar)

WIP......

I started this Snowflake from the Cross Stitch Card Shop at the beginning of the week. It's stitched on 32 count Dark Blue Jobelan (or is it Lugana?) with Kreinik #4 Braid in Silver. Not sure what I'm going to do as a finish for it but thinking a little silver frame would be nice.

That's it for my week. Now the weekend is here and no NASCAR :o( I'll be watching (or listening) to movies on Saturday and watching Football on Sunday while stitching away on the remaining 12 Days.

Until Next Time....Have a Great weekend with lots of stitching

It's A GIRL!!

I'm so excited!!! I just got a call from my daughter to let me know we are having a grand daughter. DMC better get busy and dye lots of pink floss hehehe. The baby is due to arrive on April 15 but since the boys both came early I'll be heading for Arkansas on the second of April so I'll be there in plenty of time to witness the birth and help out with the boys. Both boys want a sister and the oldest (age 7) had a bet with his mom that it was a girl this time. Will be looking for a cute girlie birth sampler now and buying lots of pink floss.

Weekend Finishes

Another good weekend for finishes. On Saturday I finished the LK December Stamp. It sure feels good to have this done and ready for the Seasonal Shelf early. Now I don't have to rush to get it done in time to hang on the 1st.

LK December Monthly Stamp

Stitched on 28 count Lt Mocha Cashel

With GAST and WDW

Sunday was the final day of NASCAR and I will sure miss it. Can't wait for Feb when it starts again with the Daytona 500. While watching the race and chatting with Meari on YM I started and finished another JBW Mitten. This will also hang on my Seasonal Shelf (get the mitten theme here).

JBW Designs "Happy Holiday" Mitten

Stitched on 28 count Lambswool Joblean

With Dinky Dyes Silk "Jacob's Ladder"

Not sure what I'm going to work on this week but I'm sure I'll find something in my WIP basket. Hummmmmm two finishes so that means I get at least two starts to keep up my title "Queen of the Serial Starters".

The weather here remains warm and sunny but maybe by January we will get some winter weather (I sure hope so). We haven't even got our jackets out yet.

Until Next Time....Have a Great Week with lots of Stitching

They are DONE!! This was a really fun one to do and didn't take long to finish. The Biscornu fits inside the tin and is soooooo cute. Now that the first set is one I'm going to start on the second one but ran out of one of the colors of floss. Oh No, I have to go floss shopping.

That's it for now, got to get more stitching done and try for another finish or two this weekend.

Until Next Time....Happy Stitching

Just Nan Tins

In the mail on Tuesday I was surprised to find a box from House of Stitches with the last in the "Over the Top" series for 2008 by Just Nan. I knew it had be released but didn't think it would get here so quickly. To say that this is my favorite of the series would be a understatement. I just love the floss colors used and the opalescent fabric is just perfect for the holidays. I just had to start it as soon as the box was open and already have the basic stitching done on the Biscornu. Will be adding the beads and with any luck will have it put together tonight. I am doing 2 sets of these, one for Deborah M and one for myself. I really will be smokn' the needles as I want to have Deborah's done and off in the mail to her before she has her surgery next week. So here is what I'll be doing for the rest of the week.....

Until Next time....Happy Stitching

I was tagged again

This is about the 3rd time I have been tagged with this so I won't be tagging anyone else.

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post.5. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know your entry is up.

Here are 6 things about me....

1. I am very shy
2. I have been married to my best friend for 30 years today and it seems like we were wed just yesterday.
3. I have 2 children and 2 wonderful Grandsons with a third (hopefully girl) due in April.
4. Our home (apartment) is VERY small so I have lots and lots of time for stitching.
5. I LOVE animals and did volunteer work at the zoo in Little Rock when we lived there. Not only did I do educational programs but worked with the Great Ape keepers, did programs with the Raptors (including free flying them) and developed new classes for children. LOVED IT!
6. When it comes to stitching I'm a serial started but have gotten better about finishing projects.

Challenge Complete

I don't believe it....I did it!!! First I want to Thank everyone for their encouragement in completing my goals for the weekend. I just had to get everything done so I wouldn't let anyone (especially myself) down. Here is what I have manage to do since late Friday night in no particular order.



First I wanted to practice making a "Bourse" before I tried to do it with the Snowman. This little guy is just done with fabric, no stitching on the inside. After putting this one together I came to the conclusion that the Snowman design was too large for the amount of fabric I had left around it so it would have to be something else. I'm sending this to someone special with a little something tucked inside.





Since the Snowman was too large for a "Bourse" I decided it would make a cute little bag. I had purchased two different fabrics for it since I couldn't decide which I liked best. The fabric that the bag is sitting on is what I used for the back and the cuff is what I used to line the bag. It has a white ribbon for a drawstring and is ready for Christmas goodies to be tucked inside.






I finished the stitching on the JBW Mitten and turned it into a ornie for my Seasonal shelf. It is open at the top and I think I'll stick some greenery or Candy Canes in it. I'm going to do the next mitten in green and think they will be really cute hanging on the shelf.






The froggies stayed away from the "Snowflake" this weekend and I finished all the outline done in perle cotton. I'll probably skip working on this next Sunday and give everyone a chance to catch up since some have started late on it. (My Bad, I really should have done a better job announcing the start of the SAL). I know I have other Just Nan things to do next week.








Couldn't stop at just one Fob They are as bad as potato chips, can't make just one! They all have a theme and will be leaving here for new homes in the next few months.







Well that is what I did this weekend while watching Football, NASCAR and a couple of movies. Now what to work on the rest of the evening?

Until next time....Happy Stitching and have a great week

Challenge for Weekend

On Carolyn's blog she has invited others to join her in a finishing weekend and I decided to join in. The only rule was to post before and after pictures for all to see. There are 4 things I really want to get done this weekend and after the past two days go to the doctors with DH Tracy I plan to sit and stitch the weekend away. Here are the projects I plan on finishing ....

First project...
This little snowman is from the UK magazine I got a week ago. I'm stitching him for my partner in the 12 Days exchange and hope to finish it as a Bourse. I found two different fabrics for it so we'll see how it comes out since I've never made one before. Just have the backstitching to do on it now.


Second....



I plan on finishing the stitching on the Red Mitten by JBW. I'm going to make this into a little pillow shaped like a mitten or maybe leave the top open so I can stick a little something in it. This is for my seasonal shelf and the color is the same as what is on the border of the LK Dec Stamp. It stitches up pretty quick so should be able to finish it.

Third.....

Sunday I'll be working on the Just Nan SAL...Amethyst Snowflake. I want to get the rest of the outlining done on it and as long as the froggies stay away this week I should be able to get that much done.

Fourth....

No picture here but I would like to also get a couple of Scissor Fobs done. I found some really pretty beads and can't wait to see how they will look.

That's my plans for the weekend....anyone else joining in.

Until Next time with some finishes....Happy Stitching and have a great weekend

Why I hate Doctors

This week just proves to me that doctors care more about money than their patients time. They cram as many appointments as possible in and then let you wait because they can. This rant comes from spending almost 7 hours in two days waiting in uncomfortable waiting rooms for two doctors. Thursday was a trip to the Pulmonologist. Tracy had a CT a couple of months ago and some nodes were found on his lungs. After a 2 hours + wait they finally called him in, did a few tests and said he is OK. Nothing to worry about but since he snores referred him to a Sleep Center for a sleep study. Thank goodness I can't go with him for that, not allowed or I know where I would be next Friday night. Today it was another specialist. This time for his hand. He has had some numbness in his fingers for a while now and it was found to be carpel tunnel. No pain just the numbness and not being able to pick things up. Off to the Hand Specialist to sit and wait again. Again another 2+ hour wait for him to spend 10 minutes with the doctor to learn he need surgery on his hand. I don't understand why these doctors can't run their offices like his Cardiologist does. If you have a 1PM appointment, show up on time, sign in and before you can get comfortable in a chair they are calling you back. Scheduled for a 20 minute appointment and you are out by 1:25.

That's it for my rant. I just hope they don't find anymore doctors he has to see.

Another Small Finish

I finished the second leaf for my Seasonal Shelf. It is from the same issue of Cross Stitch & Needlework as the red leaf I did last week. This one was stitched on the same 28 ct Natural Belfast Linen with WDW Scuppermong. I then stitched up the Tuck Pillow for it.

This is how my shelf looks for November. I'm not real happy with the candle in the middle but haven't found any Thanksgiving decorations yet to go there. Guess that means I'll just have to go shopping for something (good excuse to go to Michael's I think).

I'm still working on the stitched piece for the 12 Days exchange but hope to have it done tomorrow and then I can make it into it's finished state. Since my partner has no idea it's coming from me I'll be able to share it.

Until Next Time....Happy Stitching

Football, NASCAR, Just Nan, It Must be Sunday

I love Sunday's!!! What more could you ask for, Football and NASCAR to watch while stitching on my Just Nan SAL. This is the 3rd Just Nan project for the SAL this year. I just love it. I discovered that the chart has been retired and is now OOP so I'm glad that we were able to all get it and get started on it. The frogs visited again and I had to redo the complete right side but being that it is done in #8 Perle Cotton it wasn't to hard to remove the stitching.

"Amethyst Snowflake" by Just Nan

Stitched on 28ct Lavender Mist Cashel

with DMC

I still have to finish another Leaf for my seasonal shelf (it's about 1/3 done) and I'm also working on the stitched project for the 12 Days Exchange. I should get some more done on Scream House this week too.

Hope everyone has a great stitching week.

Until next time....Happy Stitching

A Very Good Week

DH Tracy was on vacation last week and we did have some fun on Tuesday. We had some errands to do, like going to the post office to mail Halloween goodies to the kids, get a USB port thing so I could connect more things to the CPU so we decided to just make a day of it. I planned it just right and ended up in the shopping center with a Barnes & Noble (planned that one just right) where I found not one but two great Cross Stitch magazines with designs I just had to have for projects I needed. First I got the UK Cross Stitch Card Shop. It is just chocked full of Christmas designs. I found the cutest designs in it for two exchanges I'm doing in my ILCS yahoo group. I also got the latest issue of Cross Stitch & Needlework. I had been looking on the web for patterns for Fall Leaves to stitch for my seasonal shelf to go along with the LK Stamp. I opened up the magazine and there they were, leaves in just the right size. Of course I had to get both.

From there we moved on to the Belliago to get better pictures of the conservatory. When we went the first time it was getting dark and some of the pictures didn't come out very well. I have added more pictures to my Webshots album (link in sidebar) of the things I didn't get before and some better pictures of others. Below is the mill they have set up. The water wheel really works and the sound of the water is so calming. It is full size and almost goes to the ceiling. From there we went on to Downtown to our favorite buffet to have a early dinner and feed the slots a few pennies. Dinner was great and I think I ate my weight in "Peel and Eat Shrimp". Tracy loves this buffet because he can get his favorite dessert of Bread Pudding and he says it just melts in your mouth. We left there stuffed to the gills and headed for Starbucks for coffee and to sit outside and people watch. As you can see below I don't pass up a chance to stitch, so I pulled out the UK magazine and started on the cover kit, the only stitching that got done that day.

I have already shared my finishes from the week but on Friday Tracy finally got around to staining a box I found at Michael's a couple of months ago. I wasn't sure what I wanted to put on the top and found that the JBW Pumpkin I had stitched was just the perfect size for it. I think it is a perfect match for the box and think I'll add some cording to the design to give it a more finished look. The stitching isn't attached to the box so I can remove it and put something else on it to match the season or holiday all through the year.

This is one of the leaf designs from the Cross Stitch & Needlework magazine. I'm almost done with a second one to go with it. I stitched it on Natural 28 count linen with a WDW thread that is also in the LK Stamp Turkey's tail. Was a real quick and easy one to do and I love the way it came out. The Tuck Pillow is one I made last year but never stitched anything to put in it. Will have to make another one for the other leaf.

Today is the start of another Just Nan SAL. We will be doing Amethyst Snowflake this time. This is a older design and was just retired in September. I have had the chart for sometime and am really looking forward to finally starting it.

That is what I have been up to all week. As you can see it was "A Very Good Week".

Until Next Time....Happy Stitching

Final October Finish

After all the stitching on "Scream House" I almost forgot about getting the next LK Monthly Stamp done. I think this is my favorite so far. Love all the colors in the Turkey's feathers and will be using some of them for the other two designs for my seasonal shelf (keeping those a secret for now hehehe).

LK Monthly Stamp

Stitched on 28ct Light Mocha Cashel

with WDW and GAST

I should have a couple more finishes and lots of pictures to share with you tomorrow.

Until next time....Happy Stitching