I also picked up on LL Black Forest linen in 32 count, which I am using for CHS’ Lila’s House.  I’m using the DMC called for and just love it.  I also have extra of the linen to do one of those new fun folk eggs from the new Prairie Schooler chart.  I’m leaning toward the beehive egg.

And, I started BBD’s Sarah Lovina Joslin.  I’m using the threads called for, which I really love, on LL Bittersweet, 32 count.  I know some of you didn’t like the muted pinks, and went for a bit more brightness.  I wondered a bit, but now that I have a few down on the linen, I really do love them.  And, I’m a sucker for honeysuckle borders on samplers.  That’s all I will say about this one for now, because I think I may give it away as a gift.

I will try to take some pics to update all of you this weekend on these pieces.  I must say, it’s been wonderful to spend more time with needle and thread.  I know the spring garden season will encroach on my stitching time soon, so I think I’m somehow subconsciously feeling that and trying to stitch all I can.

It’s not a great pic.  Lighting isn’t good, but you get the idea.  In fact, I think most of these pictures this first little while for this challenge will be a bit off, because I can’t take the pics during the day time.  So, my apologies up front! 

Progress on the office/craft room has been great, although I took a few days off from that project to prepare for this next first week back at work, by getting shopping done and giving Chloe and Buster a “spa day” yesterday. It has been frigidly cold here, but they needed baths and cuts so badly, that my friend and I took care of that yesterday. I couldn’t have done it without her. So, here are Chloe and Buster in their home-haircuts to wish you all a wonderful new year. I woke them to take these… can you tell?

Chloe May

Buster

Christmas was a wonderful day, with rest and some good food.  I received some great gifts, and think I was able to surprise a few people too.  That’s always great.

I hope everyone has a great week!  I’m on a quick break from the cleaning, painting, sorting and organizing that is my office/craft studio project.

Stay warm and enjoy the season everyone!

I am enjoying a two-week vacation from the office.  That’s not to say I’m not checking e-mail and working on the odd item here and there, but I am at home, doing mainly what I would like to do!  I was able to finish my big Christmas shopping today.  Woo-wee!

I’ve been quite busy for the last few days.  I’ve had a couple of house guests (two of my favorite people).  My aunt’s father passed away this past week, and she and my cousin were at my home as they prepared for and we attended the funeral.  Their stay ended with a big group of family here for dinner on Saturday.  It was nice to see all of them, and I was happy I could help provide a place to gather.

Now, I’m on to some finishing of projects (minor) for some gifts I’d like to give. We’ll see.  I have back-up plans in case things don’t work out.  I haven’t decorated my home, other than the small Christmas tree upstairs.  At this point, I don’t think I’ll bother!  But, I am and have been listening to Christmas music, wrapping gifts, and sending good wishes to everyone.  And trying to spend quiet time remembering the reason that I celebrate this wonderful holiday.  It’s been wonderful.

I have also been stitching a bit!  Yay!  I’ve been switching back and forth between “Jenny Bean’s Christmas Sampler” and Prairie Schooler’s “Christmas Eve”.  And, I’ve picked up some fun items at local thrift shops, to help decorate my little crafting side of my office/sewing room.  I’ll show those in a later post.

Do any of you have the same problem I have when shopping?  Do you find more items that you would like than you do for your family and friends? I have found some really fun items, and I’m happy to report, I am wrapping a few for myself!  And, I’m not even wrapping the rest.  Hee, hee.  By the way, I just ordered from Down Sunshine Lane for the first time last week, and wow, is Amy fast!  I was so pleased with her service.  And, just the fact that when she has something listed on her site, it’s in stock…  Love that.

Anywho… do any of you seem to find wonderful items that you just can’t pass up during the holidays when you’re supposed to be giving to others?  I AM giving to others.  I’m just making sure I’m covered too.

This year, for some reason, I’ve been especially careful to have some of my old favorite Christmas songs playing on my iPod.  I’ve had these in some form or another over the years, but some haven’t made it to my digital library.  I’ve been reminiscing about my times at my Grandma Eva’s house, where she had a Gene Autry Christmas album which she played on her turntable…  My sisters and I loved it.  I think my favorite song has to be “Here Comes Santa Claus”.  I love to hear Gene sing:

“Hang your stockin’s and say your prayers ’cause Santa Claus comes tonight…

He doesn’t care if you’re rich or poor
He loves you just the same
Santa knows that we’re God’s children
That makes everything right
Fill your hearts with Christmas cheer
‘Cause Santa Claus comes tonight…

He’ll come around when the church rings out
It’s Christmas morn again
Peace on Earth will come to all
If we just follow the Light
Let’s give thanks to the Lord above
‘Cause Santa Claus is comin’ tonight”

So, tell me what your favorite Christmas carol/hymn/song is… I’d love to know.  I live my life to a soundtrack… I really do.  I love music.  What Christmas song is associated with wonderful memories for you?

I’ll share some progress pics of my stitching and my workroom after Christmas.  I’m going to spend time this week finishing up the final preparations for the holiday, and spend some quality time with family and friends.  I hope you all do too!

And, I have an IKEA somewhat nearby. So, as part of my Christmas gift to myself, I have purchased a couple gallons of paint, two cabinets, and some IKEA gear to get the crafting side of my “studio” (as Spinster Stitcher would call it) up and running. Really, I’ve had the cabinets for almost a year now, awaiting some stashing organization. I’ll be starting small, but am excited. My goal is to have the room up and running before January 1. Here are some of the items I purchased on Saturday:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10192824

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50103604

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50081452

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/search/?query=bygel

I’ll post more later, and promise some pics of the work in progress. It’s a beast of a room, with large bookcases (filled) and an office space already set up. But, I’m culling through the junk and will hopefully have a much more organized, cheery place to work on the things I love most in 2011!

Ta, ta!

I’ve really enjoyed the fall weather lately.  I took up golf this year, and have so enjoyed it, that it cut into my gardening time this summer for sure.  A friend and I golfed at Hobble Creek for the first time a few weeks ago.  It was so gorgeous with the fall colors, and it’s just a wonderful course.  Being outside, enjoying nature, and having a fun challenge is really why I golf.  Never mind my score!

Hobble Creek

This is a pic I found, because the mobile pics we took aren’t uploading to WordPress (wrong format!)  But, the colors were just as beautiful, and the sky just as blue the day we were there.  It’s really a beautiful course and I’ll be returning there at least once a year!  It’s not far from my home at all.

That’s it for now folks.  Sorry no stitchy pics.

1. Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green?
Do you fish in a stream, or lazily dream on the banks as the clouds go by?
Is that what you do? So do I!

2. Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green?
Do you swim in a pool, to keep yourself cool, or swing in a tree up high?
Is that what you do? So do I!

3. Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green?
Do you march in parades, or drink lemonades, or count all the stars in the sky?
Is that what you do? So do I!

Words and music: Dorothy S. Andersen, b. 1927

I’d add one verse:

Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when it’s so very hot?
Do you sip a cold drink, from the kitchen sink, while the AC is cranked up real high?
Is that what you do?  So do I!

I’m so grateful for the AC. Many folks here have swamp coolers. We had one for years, but it didn’t work the last 10 or so we had it. So, we used tons of box fans until about five years ago, when we replaced the furnace and added the AC at the same time. I don’t think I could bear to leave my mom at home in the hot house without it.

The only problem with the AC is that I’m not inclined to spend much time in the garden and yard, especially when most of my day is spent at work. So, I’ve been coming home, collapsing on the couch with a cold drink and then stitching for a few hours. It’s about all I’ve had the energy to do.

I have made progress on my Boo Club. I have made progress on socks. It’s been fun. Irresponsible, but fun. I also started a new thing yesterday. I saw this blog post by Lucy at Attic24, and when I showed it to my mom, we had to run to the store to buy yarn. We are both working on a new granny stripe blanket now. Here’s my progress so far:

And, here are the colors of Caron Simply Soft (100% acrylic from Good Ole’ WallyMart) that I’m using:

Row 1: Blue Mint – Lavendar Blue – Sunshine – Pistachio
Row 2: Persimmon – Plum Perfect – Soft Blue – Melon
Row 3: Orchid – Forest Floor – Plum Wine – Country Blue
Row 4: Berry Blue – Bone – Dark Sage – Vanilla – Dark Country Blue

I haven’t crocheted since I was about 12.  My thumb hurts…   It’s a good hurt though.  But, I think I’m going to have to actually pull weeds tonight.  Dang.

In other news, I recently went to Orlando for a conference.  Whilst there I realized that Universal was having a “soft opening” of the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Islands of Adventure.  The park has now opened to the public, but I was able to sneak in one morning that I was there, with only 999 other crazy people.  While I hear that now, the waiting line to just get in is 9 hours.  Sheesh.  I have to say, as a big Harry Potter fan, they got this right.  It was just really fun, and the new ride is a blast.  I have tons of pictures, but here is a good one, with my friend Cheryl and I in front of the Hogwart’s Express.

Cheryl and Laura in front of the Hogwarts Express

Hogsmeade Snowpeople – Don’t they look great for being in 90 degree weather?

The Hogsmead skyline towards Hogwarts Castle

A View of the Owelry and the Butterbeer Keg

You can probably tell in the picture that I brought home a bit of loot.  The thing I forgot about was that my wands – being the long, thin, pointy things they are –  might cause a ruckus with airport security on the way home.  Yep, they caught sight of them in the Xray in my carry on, and had to search my bag.  But, what happened next was something I wish I’d had a video camera for.  They guy at the X-Ray pulled one out of the box, carefully looked it over, then raised it above a co-worker’s head, and with a flick of the wrist and swish of the wand, found out that it wasn’t really magical at all, and let me pass.  Funny stuff.  I did tell them that they would probably have lots more come through security in the next several months.  Luckily, the folks at Universal were smart enough not to make them sharp on the ends, or I would have lost a pricey investment in cast resin, I think.

And, I do have tickets to James Taylor and Carole King next week.   It’s been a long time since I’ve been willing to spend good money on a live performance.  In fact, I think it’s been since I got my iPod.  Who knew that lovely digital thing that contains most of my music collection would be enough to keep me in boogie heaven.  But, I couldn’t resist the option to see James and Carole together, and even splurged for seats on the floor.  I’ll let you know if it was worth it.

I have purchased a bit of stash.  My auntie Susan and I spent a day a couple of weeks ago in Ogden at Shepherd’s Bush and the Needlepoint Joint.  I picked up the last Blackbird Loose feather chart, linen and a thread conversion for The Goode Huswife’s “With My Needle” (already had the chart) at SB.  Teri was there, dressed in her usually cute jumper attire with a big felt flower brooch pinned on, and my Aunt went nuts.  She has decided she wants to be the queen of felted, knitted, and crocheted flower brooches in Boise, Idaho.  She decided this before we went to the Needlepoint Joint, where we found, some free knitted and crocheted headband charts, and a book called “100 Flowers to Knit and Crochet”.  I also picked up a chart of six knitted dishcloths, and a couple of skeins of mercerized cotton for the dishcloths in a neutral color.  I just love the little dish and face cloths that Staci at Snippets and Stash does.  Especially the neutral colored ones.  Okay, any of them are great!  And, I’ve wanted to knit some up for gifts.  We’ll see how much knitting I get done while the sun is shining so much.  I did see a wonderful knitted purple pig, that apparently is in a Rowan book that was not in stock… that saved me about another $30 I’m guessing.  Well, maybe not, when I order it online and feel compelled to make sure I buy enough to get free shipping.  I think it’s a plot.  After we shopped for stash, we picked up my cousin, and returned to Rooster’s for a great dinner.  It was a fun day.  I don’t often get to spend time with my favorite aunt.

Then, last week, after I spent all day at a meeting at the U, I stopped by a couple of shops on my way home just before they closed.  First, I had to pick up some new bamboo size 8 needles, because someone chewed on one of mine… while it was in the yarn still…  this boy-dog of mine has a yarn fetish.  Yarn and threads are the only thing he goes after to chew on.  Well, that, and jelly doughnuts, which is a story for another day.  After picking up my needles (and avoiding any more yarn purchases, which I’m proud that I did),  I did trek on over to The Craft Center.  While there, I picked up some threads for the BBD loose feathers piece.  I didn’t like the colors called for, and in fact, they don’t look much like the photo in my opinion. So, I did some switching.  And, I’ve decided I’m going to stitch the front and back of the pocket in a sampler form, with one on top of the other.  I also picked up the first two charts of Lizzie Kate’s Christmas Rules.  I’m not much of a big Lizzie Kate fan anymore, but I just can’t resist a few of her latest designs that say so much. 

So, there you have it.  It’s a long post I know, but lots can happen in four months!  Whew.  I’d better make this a habit, or call it a quarterly newsletter or something other than a blog, don’t you think?  The good thing about this big post though, is that I can see I’ve been really blessed to have good family, friends, and fun the past four months.

Well, life is busy.  Better get back to my computering.  I’m also really grateful to be employed in a job that I love!  Hope that the few of you who read this are having a great summer also.

When I looked at it on Saturday, I was holding the last copy in the shop at the time.  It was even a copy that had been reserved for one of the staff members, but the owner told me I could actually have that copy, if I wanted, and she would order another for the staff member.  Wow.  An opportunity to plop down $25 more bucks.  I didn’t pass it up.

You shouldn’t either!  It’s full of beautiful projects.  Of course, I loved them so much, that I bought the threads for the two samplers on the spot, along with a beautiful piece of vintage Lakeside Linen Autumn Gold that I think will work well for the Margaret Harris sampler.  Unfortunately, I forgot about the chart error I had read about on the BBD blog, and I purchased the wrong color  of Belle Soie for the house, etc. instead of Vanilla Pudding.   I’ll have to remedy that next week.  Hmmm, so my little trip to pick up a few cotton threads, cost me over a hundred bucks.  Sheesh.  I need to get some self control!  But, this is the only item I’ve purchased from market.  Of course, I do have a bunch of stash items I’ve picked up recently, but they’ve been on my list of things to buy for a while.  I’ll have to share more about those, when I get my package from Elegant Stitch.

I also have a piece of LL Bittersweet (32 count) that I believe will be perfect for Hannah Lovina Joslin’s sampler.   We’ll see!  I’m dying to start it.  But, first, I need to finish a few pieces!  I do have a finish to share, and have made good progress on another.

I finished Homespun Elegance’s “Home is Where You Hang Your Needlework”.  This was fun to do.  I had put it away for a bit, worried I was running out of the Espresso silk.  I picked it up on Saturday, and forged ahead.  I finished it with one complete strand of Espresso silk left.

Please forgive the lighting, but I had to use a flash this morning.   I stitched this on LL Meadow Rue.

I didn’t get a good picture of my BBD My Quaker House, which is about 70% complete, but trust me, I like it!  I hope to finish it sometime this weekend.

Well, new adventures are starting with Spring coming, and other events.  There will be plenty to show and tell in the coming weeks. That’s all I’ll say about that.

Have a great day, and make time for creativity!

Now, to contrast, I ordered some back issues of Just Cross Stitch and SANQ directly from Hoffman Media last October.   Got a confirmation of my order, but my card was never charged, and the magazines never came.  I tried again last week, with just one magazine.  I got the usual confirmation.  Luckily, this time I received a notice that it had been shipped.  So, I took a chance and ordered the rest of the magazines I was hoping to get last Fall.  I got the confirmation again, and received the charge confirmation this morning.  So, hopefully, they are winging their way toward me now.  I’ve just been in the mood to enhance my stash with some oldies but goodies.  But, mainly, these charts from Kathy have been on my wish list for some time.  And, I’ve just been so enticed by everyone’s blog entries about “This is the Day” in the JCS Jan/Feb 2009 issue.  I’ve really wanted to have that one for future stitching.  I also love Katrina‘s conversion!

So, now, my fingers are searching the internet for other treasures.  Older treasures really…charts that I’ve wanted for a while.  I’m still looking for the I’m-never-going-to-find-it Birds of a Feather “Friendship Sampler”.  Anyway, I need more stash like I need a hole in my head.  Really.  What am I thinking?  I have two cabinets I bought to put all my stash in that I have yet to put together.  I think this is a cry for help.  Really.  Okay…not really.  So, are there any market must-haves for you?  I’ve thought of picking up the Little House Needleworks mattress thing.  But then I thought, what in the world will I do with that?  I’d rather have a nice sampler in my stash that will go on my wall or someone else’s someday I guess.  I’m sure I’ll pick up a couple of the Blackbird Designs charts someday, but not right now. 

I WILL pick up the chart for Elizabeth Savilles that Terri has just finished.  I absolutely love this.  Terri, it’s beautiful!  And, by the way, I just totally identify with your ski story!  I’ve done that more than once on dry land, when I’ve hiked up a hill that I just can’t seem to get back down!  But I digress…  I’m waiting to see if Attic Needlework has the chart for ‘Liz it in stock…  And wonder if they have the OWS threads there to be able to do a conversion for me, or if I should just use the OWS.  I love those colors too, so I don’t have to change them really.  It just begs to be done for one of my nieces.

That said, I’m about to enter the season that will really restrict my stitching time, so I’ll be putting most of this away, and continuing to concentrate on just a few pieces.  But, I vow I will spend at least a few hours every Sunday, and hopefully some time in the evening a couple days a week. 

I’m interested though in whether any of you have found any items from market that you just have to have, whether sooner or later!  Thanks for your comments.  I know my little ole’ blog isn’t the most fun or interesting, but it’s fun to know that some of my fellow stitchers are out there and listening!  I just love this art of ours… for the art that it is, and for the way it brings us all together.

I hope you’ve all had a great day!