Freebie!

Thank you Jenna! This is the pattern I made. It was small, simple, and interesting to boys and girls to stitch. I got "Ooooh!"s when I showed it to them.
The border with green, then red, J. chose to go around it was all his own idea. He did a great job with his color choices.
I left lots of room around it so that once printed it gives some room to add whatever you like.
Enjoy!

cross stitch lesson

Sorry about the blurriness . Bad picture taking time but I needed to get it done before he took it home with him.

Here is the final piece. J., who is 11 finished this up in two days I think. Top pic is the front, the second is the back. He plans on putting it on a card to give to a friend who was away visiting family. I think he did a great job!
T., who is 8, finished hers I believe and then took it home. I didn't get a pic of that one. Will see if she can bring it back then take one then. Plus I'd like to see the final piece anyways.
It was cool to see what each child did after stitching the main part.

Yarn Over

Craft Night was at S's house. All four of us made it. And I learned a couple of new knitty things!

I am reading/using a knitting pattern.

Doing a "yarn over".

And increasing and decreasing stitches.

Go me!

I am using a simple online pattern for dishclothes, some odd, icky yarn to practice with and size 9 needles or so I think. Yep, size 9.

I'd like to make some as presents for Christmas. Keep your fingerscrossed for me!

Knitty Kitty was great deciphering the pattern for me and showing me the stitches I needed to do. She's a teacher (professor), it shows, such patience!

H. won't be able to make it next week, she goes on vacation with her family. But since DH is planning on attending the Red Sox game next Wednesday.... Wait should explain that- DH is taking the Downeaster train down with his cousin, her husband, and their son down to the game. They will be there most of the day. Well they won't be hopping back on the train home until 6pm, and where it's Craft Night, we usually start by about 5 or so. So I will have my two kids, and one of DH's cousin's daughter (she's not a baseball fan ;) ) and so I was thinking of hosting Craft Night here, at my house. With kids this time, since there's no other choice really. DH usually takes the kids out if I host, or keeps them busy while I am gone.

Sorry for the jibber posting. I am tired. Been a busy day!



And for all of the flossmom fans, there's a new exchange starting!!!! This time it's for a Bookmark.

Goodnight everybody!

Cross Stitching 101

This is day two of Cross stitching 101.
I sat four of the 5 kids down yesterday at the kitchen table for a cross stitching lesson. We started right from the beginning. Explained aida, how to hold the needle, and so on. By about the time I was showing them how to make the X's, I had one lose interest. A little while later my daughter was all done. (She has an ongoing project all her own. Sort of a freestyle embroidery I guess is the best way to describe it.)
It was two left, and they were really getting the hang of it. :)
I created a pattern for them. At first I thought of making a simple flower pattern so they could make it for their moms, but the favorite flowers of the moms were too different from each other. So instead I tried to make something they could get in to. And that was "cool" for boys and girls. The answer was a Yin-Yang symbol.
The two have finished the symbol and moved on to wanting to make a border and background. I left that part for them to decide.
I think, if I can get their okays, I will post a pic or two of their works tomorrow.

Oh yeah and I will post mine too. I picked up the started one and am now doing a little simple border around it. I was thinking maybe giving it to the boys so they can make it into a card or something. Not sure yet. Could be a cute little ornie or something. It's been so odd stitching on aida. I don't like it so much anymore now that I have played around with higher counts and fancy colors.
We had a hard rain the day before. The humidity had lifted so I had a couple of loads of clothes on the line.So it was nice to sit under a tree in the yard and stitch with the breeze and fresh air. It totally made my day.

a new blogger

There is a new blogger. Poppy, my flosskid, has entered the blogging world!
Looks as though I will have to get with the program over on my livespace account. It's so empty!

A Mini Vacation

So, "Where did I go?"
Well the double eye infection cleared up with meds and I managed to finish the Webkinz blanket. It was in use right after completion. DD liked it I think *wink.
There have been two Stitch'n Bitch nights. The first Wednesday was at my house. The second at S.'s (must ask her if it's okay to link to her from here, or mention her name here) They have been wonderful. We were discussing it last time as a matter of fact. Seems the crafting isn't the main reason we are getting together! Hee hee. The humpday laugh until you cry has done wonders for me. I look forward to it, and by Monday start planning what food to bring. Yes, got's to have the good eats!
The kids and I went with my Mother-In-Law on a mini vacation too Boothbay Harbor. Headed out from Portland Friday, early afternoon. Met up in Gardiner, then traveled on to Boothbay from there. We stayed at the Smuggler's Cove Motel . What a blast! Hit some of our favorite shops, like the saltwater taffy shop. The weather was hot and humid Friday but had leveled off after a huge thunderstorm Friday night. What a site that was! Gorgeous! With the second story view we haad over the water and pool you could really see every flash. We returned home by about 4pm Sunday. Seems as though I needed an extra day in there to prepare for the regular old days to come! Hee hee.

I logged into EMS today and had only 1600 messages to catch up on! I am here guys. Just trying to catch up on all the stuff I missed during my eyes troubles, day-to-day busyness and then vacation. So I may not be posting, but I will get to what you wrote, hopefully soon!

And thank you all for the nice comments- the well wishes on my eyes troubles.