An extra long weekend!

I have to say that I thought getting used to my new work schedule would be easy.  Maybe it's just that work is picking up along with the end of school year things that have made me drag.  I'm looking forward to this long weekend.  It will be extra long since I have Friday off too. 

I'm sad to report that I wasn't able to do a single stitch last Friday.  We'll see about tomorrow.  Tomorrow is my son's last day in 7th grade.  He'll be released at noon so I'm sure we will be doing some celebrating!  It's been a great year.

Look at one of my Mother's Day gifts.....

I've already made two of the recipes and hope to make more this weekend.  I love it!  Both recipes were loved by my family.

What are you doing this long weekend?

Look what the mailmail brought me!!!!!

I'm so excited.  Heather let me know that I had won a drawing.  I couldn't believe it.  I've never won!  And then the package arrived.  She sure did spoil me.  Just look.....

She sent me a nice note, a storage box, a note pad, material and a pattern. 

The material is called "Jubliee".  Heather, this is kind of scary - can you read my mind? 

Just the other day I was looking through my patterns.  Actually I was looking for a gingerbread boy or girl for this month's ornament.  Didn't find that - yet!  But I did find another project I want to do.  Except that I didn't have the right color material.  I sat there saying to myself...do I dare let him know I want to buy more material.  Let me just add here...one of our cars died so right now we are using one car and usually we are together.  He drops me at work and picks me up.  So not much gets by him these days.  As I've mentioned before he thinks I should do one project at a time so I usually get "the look" when I flutter from one thing to another.  He's a wonderful guy but he just doesn't get my fluttering around.  So I sighed to myself and put the magazine up.  But now - now I can pull it out again!!!!!  I've never stitched on "Jubliee" before so I'm looking forward to it and it's the perfect color!

And the pattern!  Here's a close up:

Well that didn't turn out so well.  Sorry for the glare.  Isn't this amazing?  O.K.  I can't start this one now but soon!

Heather, thank you again for this lovely gift.  It certainly put a smile on my face.   

Happy Mother's Day

Things are getting a little busy, but I wanted to wish all the Moms a Happy Mother's Day.  I hope you have a relaxing weekend, with some nice surprises and plenty of stitching time.

My sisters and I will celebrate with our Mom on Saturday.  And to add to the celebration, my Dad's birthday is Tuesday so we'll be celebrating with him as well!  I have no idea what my guys have planned for me this weekend. 

Hope you have a great weekend!

The Jig Is Up

Last night we were talking about the weekend plans.  Our son has a band competition that is about an hour to an hour and half away.  We were talking about some places we wanted to visit after the competition and I mentioned that I needed to get some more thread.

"What?" he cried.  "We just got you a handful of thread.  Did you already use that up?"  (Which is a whole different lesson to share with him, I guess.)

So I explained to him that my pattern had 90 different colors (some would require more than one skein in the same color).  I told him that I had pulled the colors I already had and that yes, I had bought 6 or 8 skeins twice.  I told him I was trying to buy it as I reached the section where I needed the additional colors.  (So I don't give you a heart attack when I purchase around 70 skeins of thread I thought to myself.)

So I got my project and showed him two sections that had small holes where I had skipped that area because I didn't have the color I needed.

"Let me see the project," he says.

You know I have been avoiding this for two months now.  But I got the project and showed it to him.

"Holy Crap!  So who are you going to will this thing to so they can finish it after you die?"

I know Heather told me she wasn't going to look at the completed project because she wanted it to be a surprise.  But if you want you can view Flight of the Kites here.

May Happenings

Here it is another month!  I love love love the Theme A Licious SAL.  I've had so much fun with it.  May is supposed to be a month where you finish a project that you started in a class or some other WIP.  I've thought long and hard about this.  I do have a WIP that I could get out.  In fact, I did get it out and look at it.  But here's the thing.  Remember I mentioned that my husband doesn't understand why I can't just start one project and finish it before starting another?  I've been mostly working on Flight of the Kites but I also have All Things started.  Then I'm in another SAL - it's a monthly ornament.  So I'm already pushing things by working on three different projects each month.  I really didn't want to see that muscle in his jaw pulsing as I pull out a WIP that he's probably forgotten about to work on.  So back in the drawer it went before he had a chance to see it.  Sorry guys, I'm going to sit this one out.

I am going to keep working on Flight of the Kites.  I thought I would be tired of working on all the blue/gray but I'm still really excited to stitch on it.  I'm also going to do the ornament.  This month the theme is gingerbread boy/girl.  I haven't found a pattern yet.  I'll have to keep looking in my stash.  Who knows maybe I can put in a few stitches on All Things.  But the big goal for May is to blog at least once a week.  Think I can do it?  I guess we'll see.

I do have some news for May.  I'm trying to be positive about it and call it extra stitching time!  Work has decided that we will work 4 10 hour days and be off on Friday.  Of course, I expect I will still do quite a bit of work from home.  This is our busiest time of the year.  I usually work quite a bit of overtime between now and Labor Day.  Supposedly no overtime for now.  Again looking on the positive side I now have Fridays to stitch beginning May 18th.

In other news, my son turned 14 over the weekend.  Where did the time go? 

What exciting things do you have planned for May?

Amazon April Update

I know I'm a terrible blogger.  One of my goals for May is to blog at least once a week.

Please tell me you can see the sky getting bigger!  Here is the update on Flight of the Kites for Amazon April.  The picture is terrible - I'm not sure what happened but I wanted to go ahead and get a post done.

And I have my ornament for April done - well at least the stitching.  The theme for this was snowflakes. Here it is.

I'll be back - hopefully tomorrow - with my May goals.

Life and Updates

I'm sorry I've been gone.  Sometimes life just gets in the way!  I have a finish and progress to show.

First up is Get Into the Spirit by Brittercup Designs.  It's my ornament for March in the Christmas All Year Group!  This will be a gift for a co-worker.  I know she will love it.

Second, here is my progress on Flight of the Kites for March Madness.  March started off wonderfully but then life happens. 

So I'll be working on this for Amazon April!  I haven't decided what I will do for April's Ornaments.  It's supposed to be snowflakes. 

Things are getting back to normal so hopefully I won't be absent and can get caught up again.

IHSW

I almost forgot about the International Hermit and Stitch Weekend this weekend!  I'll be joining in the fun but my time will probably be limited because we have so much going on right now.  I'll be working on All Things. 

March Madness Update

So far so good.....It looks like a tiny gray blob but it's a little over 1400 stitches.  Keep the March Madness going!!!!

March Goal's

I just remembered I still need to post my March Goals.  So here goes.

Start and complete stitching for Christmas All Year Round ornament.  I've chosen a Brittercup Design for March since it's our choice.
Start Flight of the Kites.  Theme-A-Licious SAL
Stitch on All Things one weekend probably for IHSW
Stitch at least 26 of the 31 days of March.

Fangirl February Wrap Up and March Madness Begins!

My plan for Fangirl February was a Lizzie Kate project titled Time for God.  I finished the project and it awaits framing.  Here's a picture for a reminder.

So next up is March Madness.  I can't wait to see what everyone is doing.  I think this is my favorite so far.

Heather is working on something different every day.  I can't imagine!  But I can't wait to see all her projects!  What fun.  And we were all invited to participate in her "madness" or to come up with another kind of "madness".  Heather gave us some great suggestions like having a friend pick your project or work on a different WIP each weekend.  But whatever seems like "madness" to us works.  Are you ready for my madness?

I purchased my first HEAD.  That's right, Flight of the Kites is mine!!!  I will be starting this for March Madness.  I can just hear the laughter and the cheers!  Now I'm off to see what everyone else is doing.  This is going to be a great month! 

Heather you are awesome coming up with this SAL.  I have enjoyed every minute of it.

End of February Update

I've done well with my goals for February. Here they are once again:

February Goals:

Start and Complete Lizzie Kate's Time for God
Start and Complete February Ornament:  Tree theme
Continue working on All Things
Stitch every day - at least a few minutes

I did finish Lizzie Kate's Time for God
I did finish the Tree Ornament (picture below) although I didn't get it made into an ornament but I wasn't planning to.  I'll probably save them and finish them all towards the end of the year.
And I did work on All Things (picture below).  Not much progress made, but every little bit helps.
I stitched all but 4 days.  Not too bad.

I'll post March goals soon.

Here is my tree ornament:

 Here is my progress on All Things....

IHSW and TUSAL

I know I'm late.  The sickness has spread to the rest of the house.  We have all been down for the count.

I did manage to stitch some this past weekend.  Here's Adore Him from Plum Street Samplers.  This is also my February ornament for the Christmas All Year Round group.  Not much longer and I'll be done.

And here's my TUSAL update too.

A Stitch Weekend

It's that time again IHSW!  I'm looking forward to it.  Although my husband is sick so I'm not sure how much time I will have.  I plan to either work on an ornament or continue to work on All Things.  I'll post a before and after picture Monday since I'm not sure what I'll be working on.  I hope you can join us!  If you want to read more about it or sign up please visit Joyce.

Fangirl February Check-In

Woo Hoo!!!  A finish.  The second one this year.  I'm so pleased to be making so much progress this year. 

Time for God Update

I thought I would post an update on my progress. 

I'm so ready for the weekend.  I should be able to stitch quite a bit this weekend.  Hopefully you'll have a great stitching weekend too.

I need to stop surfing and goals for February

Not only do I find lots of new charts and ideas but I also find new groups.  Yesterday I found Christmas All Year Round.  I LOVE Christmas.  I'm not really good at "finishing" and was hoping that this year I could improve in that area.  I think this is the perfect way.  This is a SAL group completing an ornament each month. So I just dropped a quick email asking if I could join in the fun and Elaine said yes!!!!  I'm so excited.

I'm sure my husband will be less than thrilled.  You see he's one of the "why can't you just start one project and totally finish it before you start the next thing" people.  We made a deal that I wouldn't start more than two projects at a time.  Usually a bigger project only for home and a smaller project that I can take with me.  So you know I have All Things started from Jardin January.  And of course, it's Fangirl February now.  So I started Lizzie Kate's Time for God last night.  Sorry no picture yet.  And now I'm just tempting the peace of the household by wanting to start my February Ornament.  The theme is "tree".  I've found the pattern, but I'm going to hold off and see if I can finish Time for God quickly.  That way I'm keeping my end of the deal with only two projects started.  (Yes, I do have some UFOs but he's forgotten about those - sssshhhhh!)

I saw this last month and thought I should try it.  I saw it again today and thought maybe next month.  But then I said it's only February 2nd.  I can still do this.  I'm keeping it small since this is the first time I'm trying.  I don't want to stress myself out.

February Goals:

Start and Complete Lizzie Kate's Time for God
Start and Complete February Ornament:  Tree theme
Continue working on All Things
Stitch every day - at least a few minutes

Fangirl February

It's so difficult to choose one designer.  But I looked around at the things I've stitched recently and Lizzie Kate seems to be in the majority.  And remember my husband gave me a new Lizzie Kate chart for Christmas.  Awesome!  I will start Lizzie Kate's Time for God today.  Here's a snap of the chart.

It's something I need to remember just now too.  Hopefully stitching this will help me remain calm and trusting with recent family developments. 

Can't wait to see what everyone else will be working on!!!!

TUSAL

Here's my first TUSAL.  Not Bad.....

IHSW Weekend

I had a great time this weekend - minus the trip to the doctor!  Not as much accomplished as I had hoped.  Do we ever accomplish as much as we want???? 

Before:

After:

Yikes!!!  It's side ways again.   I'm sorry.  I tried to rotate it but it keeps changing back to this.

IHSW Weekend!!!

This weekend is IHSW weekend.  I'm so excited about this.  Not only do I have a great time stitching but I love to look at everyone's projects and progress.  It's so great to encourage each other.

I'm going to continue to work on All Things Bright and Beautiful.  I've been stitching on it for Jardin January in the Theme-A-Licious SAL.  I just posted a picture on 1/15 for that update.  I really haven't been able to stitch much since then.  But I will take another "before" picture Friday just in case I'm able to make some progress before the stitch in begins.

Jardin January Update

I am enjoying this so much.  Usually this time of the year, I'm still finishing up some Christmas project that I didn't finish.  I think this is a welcome change and I'm going to have to remember it for next year.

I finished my Lizzie Kate "Hello Spring" project.  I have no idea why the camera shows 6/22/11 my husband took it for me today.  I'll have to ask him.

And I was able to start a new project!  This one I've had in my stash for a long time waiting for one day.  The chart is called "All Things Bright and Beautiful".

I'm going to continue to work on this one.

And now to check out what everyone else has been working on!

Jardin January

You may remember that I joined Heather's 2012 Theme-a-licious SAL.  You can read more about it here.  I'm pretty sure you can still join us if you'd like.  January's theme is Jardin January.  We are relaxing while stitching on a garden or flowers.  Heather has several projects she'll be working on this month.  I'm really loving her Shakespeare's Garden.  It is so pretty.  I can't wait to see the finished project!!!!  Go Heather!  Go Heather!!!

My plan is much simpler.  I'm still worried about my Mom and Dad and really don't know how much stitching time I'll have.  We are still going to their house quite often and cooking and cleaning for them - taking turns with my sisters.  So my plan is to do a Lizzie Kate freebie called "Hello Spring!"  The colors are so bright and cheery.  And I'm already ready for Spring.  Let's just skip winter!!!!  I haven't started it yet so there is no before picture to show.  I believe we are supposed to post an update on the 15th.  And if I do have some extra time, I'll add a second project! 

Update

I'm so sorry that it's been so long since I posted.  So much has been going on! 

My husband decided that almost everything on the to-do list needed to be done before we had company for Christmas.  Boy did that take a lot of time.  But on the plus side, the house looks really good!

Christmas dinner was a success!  We had Rosemary Scented Roast Pork Loin, Salad, Cranberry Casserole, Corn Pudding, Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Crumble, Yeast Rolls, Ambrosia, Red Velvet Cake, Chocolate Cheesecake and Fruit Cake.  I know!  I know!  Fruit Cake.  But my husband loves it so every 3 to 4 years I make one for him. 

Each year we send trays of cookies to our neighbors.  This year on the tray was Peanut Butter Delights, Peppermint Snowballs, Big Soft Ginger Cookies, Merry Cherry Fudge, Saucer-Sized Oatmeal Cookies and Haystacks.

So just as everything was calming down my Mom had chest pains and was rushed to the hospital by ambulance.  Almost all week last week I spent at the hospital.  She's doing better now and is at home.  We are still taking turns staying with her and my Dad because my Dad had a stroke a few years ago and needs some help also.

I know you really just want to know any stitching news and I do have some but no pictures.  I "finished" two ornaments that I has stitched earlier and stitched and finished two others that I gave to co-workers.  I did finish stitching Chilly's Gift (for myself) but I haven't "finished" it into an ornament yet.

I was all ready to place an order for some new stash but my husband asked me to hold off because he thought I would be getting some for Christmas.  So I waited.  And I did receive two new charts!  One is a Westie Kit

And the other is Lizzie Kate's Time For God

I haven't had a chance to start them, but I'm excited to have some new stash!

I hope everyone else had a great Christmas.  I can't wait to catch up with everyone.  I feel so far behind!