EMS Staff Exchange

I just heard from my partner Birthe that she received my package. It was a long 17 day journey! And that's only from Maine to Canada- who knew!
I didn't take a pic of the final ornament/scissor fob all done, just of the end before I trimmed and closed it. Not sure why. Just in a state to get it done I guess. I was soooo late getting it out. I had made a nice fob, front and back, but had trimmed it way too close and it started to rip while stitching it closed. Lucky for me the front was still intact. But the back bit the dust.
So, I salvaged the front and attached it to a card. Then did a whole new project for the hanging goodie, in blue. I think it came out pretty nice.


Odd though as I could swear I had taken a pic of it all done up. *shrugs. I'm telling you I am losing my mind!


So on with the details.....
This is what I received from Birthe. (Funny that we had each other huh?)
It's a nice lighthouse kit and an ornament with my initial on the front. I love it. I love how she closed it. (I am truly finishing impaired, it amazes me what other stitchers can think of and do with their hands!). I especially liked the note she sent with it too.
But I wouldn't post that.




This is parts of what I sent......


This is right side up before I trimmed and attached the back and hanging thread and all.

• Design by Ellen Maurer-Stroh, "Stitcher's Tools-Scissor Finder", a free design at EMS.


• 28ct Monaco, over one with two threads


• DMC Variegated 121 (the pic just doesn't do it justice)

And here it is, turned on its side, next to a very full bobbin for size comparison. Pardon how messy the threads are on the bobbin. But it can be tricky when you need to change threads and want it to continue with the color variations in the right places.

And this is the card I did up... (the attempted fob that got away from me)

• Designed by Ellen Maurer Stroh, "Happy Stitching", also a free pattern on EMS.
• 28ct Monaco
• Two threads over one using DMC

I also sent her a magnifying ruler, two heart frames, and scissors... I think that's all... Lol.

EMS Scissor Fob received

This reached Ljerka, in Croatia, in no time flat. It's my first scissor fob too!

• Pattern from: "Alphabet Mélusine aux marguerites" (Daisy Alphabet)



• Zweigart 22ct Hardanger Mocha



• DMC threads :367, white and 445

I couldn't stitch the whole letter as is done in the chart. It would have been huge, and not a good fit for a scissor fob. I love those letters so I know I will do them again, full size, maybe over one or something, but definitely do them as charted.

Here it is next to my pinky for size comparison. I take a small glove, if that helps.... And as a WIP, just before I trimmed (super carefully as I don't want to have my first attempt at a scissor fob happen again. Trimming it too close and having it rip as I started to stitch it closed.)

I loved using that color fabric with that yellow. I will have to pair them up again sometime soon.

Then yet another picture with a few skeins of DMC all wrapped up in the flowered cellophane with white tissue paper -with its matching card I made- all ready for mailing.

Sorry the pics are out of order. I have had my hands full today.

a little quickie

A little quickie to post so you know I am alive.

I am stitching a Exchange item for EMS. It is for the very late Staff Exchange. I had stitched a nice item, but is had started to rip during assembly. So I stopped that, will probably put that on the card and include that in the mailing for the exchange. Now I am working on something different, so no pics... I think she may read here from time to time.


I have been caught up in the Initial Scissor Fob Exchange I am running over to EMS too. I have the one I will do picked out, I think. I have to print it off. It needs to go out in the mail on the 22nd so there isn't much time. I think if I have two hoops going at once it will help incredibly. Keep things fresh and get them both done as I can.

There is a box, one of those underbed storage types filled with things that need new homes. Just tastes have changed a bit, plus I need to make room. :) I think the only thing I could really trade for any of them would be fabric, since, if I follow the course I want to take, I will be stitching lots! Planning stage naturally. But still. It counts.

DH, the kids and my MIL and I had a nice mini-vacation. We stayed at the North Conway Grand Hotel. I did most of the kids back-to-school shopping (they go back to school the 26th of this month) and got a little R&R time in too. The pools were nice. The weather was very good, unlike the last few days we have had.... drip drip.

the mail'n stuff

There was an exchange for some stitchie stuff, a post card and something, non stitching, that goes with it all........ the EMS Secret pal/stash exchange.



I sent to pandabear. Betcha' can't guess the theme!


Now for "the story":

I couldn't find a panda iron-on for the little canvas tote bag (purchased bag by-the-way, I am not that talented). So I used a fancy scrapbooking sticker on the front instead. It came out quite nice!

Also inside the bag were a few skeins of white and black DMCs, a beanie panda- you just see it's face a bit in this shot- whose arm is around a rolled up piece of white aida. The plastic figurine panda is looking on at the whole thing. In admiration naturally.
The whole package took a scenic route but did finally get there. See? It's all wrapped up in nice striped paper!



And this is what I received:


Melissa/babynurse sent me one of the biggest puffy envelopes I have ever seen!

Inside was a desert scene Dimensions kit called "Desert Hues", two tubes of aida, a homemade post card (wicked cute), a hanger, two handmade cards with with plastic canvas inserts and matching envelopes, and three more postcards! My favorite post card was of the gems and the stiched ornament she made too. I haven't taken a pic of that yet..... So pretty!



Other Stitchie News!
I mailed off a few packages.

This is the one received by Outi. Check out her pictures! I forgot to take a picture, *sigh, my mind is going I swear, but hers came out nicely. Plus I think I can only post 5 pics per post here anyways. It's a belated Bday gift, kind of..... A piece of linen, some linen threads, a skein of white (one can always use white!), a Mill Hill cat treasure and a funny kitty stamp. :) I love the expression on the cat's face. The card just screamed Outi, it had to go to her- don't you think? Her cat was a fabulous model for it of course.



Another package arrived at its new home in the Netherlands, at Barbara's house. I did remember to snap a pic of this one: Here is a pic she took.

Barbara was the winner from the completed exchange giveaway on Flossmoms.

I hope you are all having a great day!

Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day everyone!

It's raining here today. It feels so nice. Looks so much better too getting all that yellow pollen off of everything. I vacuumed out the car and van yesterday. It was awful how bad they were from regular spring dirt and that yellow everywhere you touched. It didn't matter how careful you were either. Just to open a door it was all over the place. I was going to wash the outsides of them after but we decided to go out to eat for dinner. My stomach won.
I had run errands earlier in the day and felt awful how bad my pollen-mobile looked. The outside was quite a sight too! And here I was with no time to hit the hand car washes all over the place the kids were running as fundraisers. To think if I didn't need to get to the post office and bank before the 12:00 cut off I could have had a green van!
But I got the white box mailed off to my exchange partner in the EMS Secret Pal exchange. It's one of the best ones I think I have ever done too.I will post pics once she receives it.
Then after that I hit Goodwill to drop off lots of stuff. Then Border's -which the whole point was to use up a $5 gift certificate- then I ended up getting the book that I wanted and forgot to hand them the gift card! *headsmack*. Good news, "Teach Yourself Visually Crocheting", is finally in my permanent possession. I had borrowed and renewed it several times through my inter library loan program at the library. Which is how they can get a book for you to borrow, even if they don't have it in their library, by borrowing it from another library who does have it in stock. The book was from Fairfield this time. It was great to try it out and see what I thought before I bought it. And the "yarn" they use in the book is great since it's sort of a tshirt type material and you can really see what they are doing. There is no fluff from the yarn in the way. Trust me I need all the help I can get.
Then I did some serious damage at AC Moore. They are running a sale on DMC, four-for-a-dollar this week. The poor guy ringing me up recognizes me now I think.

The Humbugs

fabric: 18ct Victorian Red aida ( I think)

fabric: 18ct white aida

thread: DMC 310 thread, for design and hangers

design: my own

The Challenge at EMS was to create humbugs, two of them, one done on light fabric and the other on dark, but, using the same pattern and thread on both.




I sent out the package to bebeche, then it dawned on me- I should have written in both English and French. Not just in English as I had done. Stupid me. She received them, and I think she likes them. I sure hope so.

I was going for a modern sort of look, I guess you could say. I was very nervous about the finishing and thought that if I could make it simple (KISS) then it would allow me to focus a bit more on the assembly. This way it gave me a little wiggle room in case I messed it up ( it tore or something) and I had to restitch.

I made the italicized "b" on my PC Stitch. I wanted it to be lowercase as her username ( like mine) is all in lowercase. On the backstiched username side I sketched the "b" on paper and decided I liked it. The rest of the name I sort of "stitched along" going more by how it looked and not on how well it fit. (*chuckle) Not the best way to design something. On the other hand, it felt very creative to me... I was stitching in hand, doing one section on the red then on the white, and so on. Probably sounds rather weird, but, it was very nice, going as the needle took me.
I crocheted the loops using the smallest hook I had at the time using DMC 310. I rather like the effect. Simple. My hands trembled the whole time. Nerves. Pure nerves.

The pictures are very deceptive. The stitched borders/outlines are 4 inches by 2 inches. Then once they were stitched up and stuffed they were sooo tiny. If I hadn't seen for myself how it all started, I don't think I would have believed it.

All the way from France!

The humbugs from the EMS Challenge:Humbugs Dark and Light Exchange arrived.:)

They are beautiful! Dom, who sent them to me, stitched them up using Primrose, from L'atelier du Pic Vert. It's a beautiful blend of colors. The way they look on the dark brown reminds me of chocolate with frosting. Mmmmmm. (In the first picture I was trying to hold them up together, with the door in the backdrop,but I don't think it came out quite as it should have. I'd click the camera and wiggle over and over. *chuckle)

She had wrapped them in the pink tissue paper, and enclosed a nice note and a kit of Christmas Cards as an extra little goodie. I had done my "usual" in not touching the lovely puffy envelope until I realized after passing by it several times that the envelope was open! I pulled everything out, worried that they didn't quite make the long journey. But, they did. I had heard about other stuffed stitched items not making it to their destination. Instead, an empty envelope arrives. *Gasp! Wasn't the case (thankfully) this time.

Aren't they sooo pretty?????

Thank you Dom!!!!!

I also realized after mailing out mine to *destination* that I wrote the note in English. Grr I should have written in English, translated it on Google and then wrote that as well. So sorry *exchange partner*.

Speaking of which, she should be getting mine soon. I hope.....

amigurumi and an exchange

Angelsan crochets those cute little ,amigurumi characters which I find amazing anyone can do. I didn't realize how odd I am, until I mentioned how cute I think they are- especially the food ones. (Mmmmm, donuts......)
Oh my word. Come to think of it, a crayola crayon would be divine too! Or even a little box of them.
Here is an example of some of them. I love the ones of cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, and other sweets. I love them with and without the little happy faces.
I think it all ties in with how I like personification.
Now, whether I would try to learn how to make them? No clue. But they are fun to look at.

I participated in an exchange of humbugs. I sent mine out and remembered to take pictures this time. I can't wait until she gets them so I can post the pictures. They were fun to make, though I was nervous for most of the creating. I'd definitely do it again! Plus it could be a very nice style of finishing for ornaments and even little scissor fobs.
Did I mention these were my first finishes of the year????

name this pic

I am in a weird mood. I had my first happy dance and since it's an exchange item, I can't post pics or yack about it. So, I think I'll do this.

Do you know what this is? I used that handy macro button on my camera.

******************************
Oh I nearly forgot! I bought both sets of Satin floss, the boxed sets I mean, at AC Moore yesterday. They are nice and bright. I haven't taken them out of the boxes yet to see what patterns came with them. I think they were $9.99 a box.

We (Knitty Kitty) and I popped in to Michaels after leaving AC Moore and they didn't have any of the Satins. Just rayons in their plastic covers. I walked out of Michaels with a "25% off your entire order "coupon. Unused. Nothing spoke to me.

Plus I had the satins, a smaller crochet hook, a thingie for my sister, Thread Heaven ( been wanting that too), and the shadow box frame (40%off on sale) from AC Moore.

Yes!

nothing like stash to cheer a person up.

Not that I needed the cheering, but excuses are that. Excuses.
Guess what I ordered? Yup. Some adorable, fat little birds. Pamela always sends a nice confirmation email. It's great to know the order was received and it will be on its way, soon.

I also ordered a few other things at 1-2-3 Stitch!

• Poppy, by Nora Corbett, for my Flosskid Val aka "Poppy"
• a nice 30 x 36 piece of White Monaco, also for Val. According to 123 Stitch they are selling huge pieces of the stuff. People ordering 5 yards at a time, then calling and asking if they have two more! So she may end up sending out the other items and then the fabric later, once it's in.
• Mill Hill Snowflake charms, for me. (They might work with the next item I had been watching come to life on Kim's blog.)
• Snowman Trio
• and another thing I can't mention here, because she reads my blog. Just a little something-something. May be an out-of-the-blue RAK, or a birthday present. We'll see....

I keep thinking I want to have a stash exchange. Will have to think on it.

countdown....

Just a reminder! The sign ups for the Biscornu Exchange close March 15th, 2008, at midnight (GMT +2).

The participants of the exchange will be entered into a drawing for free stash, what you ask? It's a mystery!


Mr Snowman says, "Psst! She's been known to snoop in wishlists!"

Biscornu Exchange!!!!!!

You can sign up here for the Biscornu Exchange on the Flossmoms forum (quoted below by Outi, the organizer of the exchange).

"The theme is monochromatic i.e. you can use only one colour when stitching the design - slight tone variations are allowed, as long as the colour stays the same, in case you wish to use hand-dyed/variegated floss. (As an example this and this apply as one colour, whereas this and this don't.)

The size of the finished item should be appr. 3'' - 4'' (or 7,60 cm - 10, 15 cm).

The sign-ups open now and will be closed 15th of March, 2008, at midnight (GMT +2). I will send the names out by email 17th of March.
The mailing-out date is 28th of April. "

I realize if you aren't already a member there that there is a bit of a sign up, get approved and then sign up for the exchange, so..... to help ease the hassle a little~
Out of all those who sign up and complete the exchange, I will be drawing one name for a mystery prize to be sent out by yours truly. Now who doesn't want to stitch, get an exchange goodie and possibly get more to "enhance their stash"?
So fly over there and sign up!!!!!!

test is in! (edited)

My son went to the doctor's last Thursday on his 4th day of a fever, sore throat, light cough with the sniffles. I was told it was probably a virus and to do all the things I was to keep him comfortable, rested and well hydrated. When I asked about a Mononucleosis test the doctor said that to test him then would probably give a false negative. But if he wasn't better or worsened they would have to see him again.
He went in again yesterday, he wasn't any better. It's positive- he has Mono (untreatable) with a sinus infection (treatable with antibiotics) to boot....

I posted this entry, or sort of this one, in a hurry. I was on the phone most of the rest of the day (after the app't and the doctor's call with the test results) with the doctor's office, B.'s school, and family and friends. So I posted in haste and having reread it today- it was a mess. Hopefully you can read this a little better.

I had to arrange several things with the school. He has already missed 8 days of school including today. I arranged a few things with his teacher so he doesn't fall behind. I had the doctor's office fax a "out until further notice" note to the school. And gave them a heads up. It looks as though yesterday not including my son that 6 other kids weren't in his class (of about 24 kids)- all out do to fevers, which in case I didn't post it here then, was what he started with.

When I had Mono in '94, it started on my 18th Bday. I missed about 3 weeks I think. It was awful, esp trying to make up Midterms during regular class time. My Anatomy/Physiology grade never recovered. You can't miss that much time dissecting a cat. Just can't make up that kind of work at home! I was dehydrated enough then to be hospitalized and it took months really until I was really back to "myself". So keep my DS in your thoughts and prayers that he gets better very, very soon!

So sorry for the things I haven't finished (Bookmark Exchange, Surprise Send out to you Vicki) and the posts I haven't seen or made. With the water troubles, then B. being sick, etc. I just haven't had a second to take a breath. I will contact my Bookmark Exchange partner today- with an apology, yeah I think I should tell her it's me at least so she doesn't keep waiting..... It will come just later.

Pic

This is what I received in the "Start Your Christmas Stitching Exchange"......... I received the package over a week ago but just got to the picture posting now.

I also received word that the package for the same exchange I had sent out made it to her. I found the receipts in the "gum pocket" of my purse (I have a zippered pocket on the outside of my purse that is for gum for the kids- never normally put anything else in there!) Sorry I forgot to take a pic before I mailed it.....
Just not myself lately.

okay

I mailed the EMS exchange item for the "Start Your Christmas Stitching Secret Pal" exchange. I sent it West. As of yesterday it had been a week. (Tomorrow being a holiday is no help either) I had this funny feeling and mailed it with delivery confirmation and hung onto the receipt and delivery confirmation slip. I then lost both. She hasn't posted yet that she has received it............
*grrrr. Better not have gotten lost in the mail! If so I will have to replace it and resend.

not so productive

I stitched for many hours last night on the Bookmark Exchange for the Flossmom forum(during yeah Heroes!, and beyond) to come to a conclusion. I just don't like the design. So having found another "back up" design I am going to cut yet another piece of fabric and restart. Later, maybe during Craft Night, I will spend the 3 or so hours frogging the first two starts. Mustn't waste valuable fabric!
So back to the drawing board. Another floss toss... Then start stitching again. But I think I will stick with the grey Monaco I was using.

A little this and that

Well I have been on, I swear. We can watch those YouTube videos now! Hello, enough old cartoons and drum solos to last for hours of enjoyment.
I am still sorting out the activation with Roadrunner. And seems that I can't comment on Blogger, it sort of hiccups, but, I can zoom around the internet now!

Let's see, in crafty news, I have done:

A little shopping for my flosskid Poppy. :)

Knitted all the parts for a baby sweater, as of now it isn't assembled. I need a little help from my neighbor Knittykitty.

Knitted, ripped out completely, restarted, ripped out a row, and now pausing the matching baby blanket. Seems I am goofing the purling somehow and I just don't trust myself to try it later at night. Maybe I can squeeze some time during the day. *cough, yeah! Maybe!

I have received the name to send to for the exchange going on at EMS. It's an exchange to start your Christmas stitching. Sounded like fun, especially since I can just buy stuff and send than stitch....

Started cross stitching the piece I wanted to do for the bookmark exchange. I made the mistake of starting it on 14ct aida, and simply put I hate it. So I will still do the same design I had started, just on another piece of fabric. I haven't decided yet which type or color fabric, just that it'll be at least a 28ct piece.
No pics yet, just seem to be eating camera batteries lately.....


Oh and wish me luck. I am job shadowing on Thursday morning. Not a clue what to wear just yet.

explanations

I am not sure who has noticed what, but, I am still wrestling with my internet connection. There are days that I can't access anything. Others when I get halfway through something, then, "Poof!", bumped offline. Then what I try to get right back on it says that the line is busy (yes, it's dial up), and I have to more or less reboot and purge stuff to be able to get back on. And when I am about to head out for this or that , like van appointments, I just can't afford that time to do that.
So if you happen to notice I am not around much, take heart, I am trying!

I have pushed the send out deadline for the Bookmark Exchange to October 13. I couldn't even access flossmoms for a couple days at all and then after that only for a few minutes here or there. So I thought this was only fair to the stitchers.

It's been a while!

Since I last posted. Let's see.
Nothing in the stitching front. I have had lots of kids around the house. I am watching a few on top of my own for the summer. So it's a lot of busy work during the day. Lunch for 5 (including me) and that kind of stuff.
It's been fun so far. Ask me in a few weeks! But the kids are starting to figure it out. When I say something I follow through. No empty threats here! So yes when I say, "IF you do that again, you will lose videogames for the day", I mean it!And no you can't throw the ball on the roof. This was asked about 10 times. Must think I have a memory of a gerbil. *chuckle.
It's funny though. When I watch other's kids, I feel very close to them very quickly. The whole protection factor kicks right in.

I had my hair cut today. It's about t-shirt collar length. I didn't donate it. There is a bit of a thing we aren't so sure about. I know they sell what they can't use- like grey hairs. But whether it means they sell the whole donation from the one person, or that they separate and sell the strands they can't use and then use the rest for the children's wigs. We aren't sure. Even my hairstylist isn't sure now. I guess they changed the Locks of Love program a bit. So if they can't use my hair, yes, I have lots of white/grey, then I guess I won't bother with it. And neither will Hubby. He's been trying to grow his out so he can donate again.

Now on to stash goodness.
I ordered a few things. RAKs mostly for other people. A couple things for me.
I have a stack from Silverlining coming to me. And I placed my first order through One Star's Light. Great service! My computer wouldn't let me see or do the shipping options for some strange reason on One Star's page. So I contacted the owner and still managed to order what I wanted. Hurray for Paypal!
I ordered through 123Stitch- the color variations thread pack for one of my flosskids,(I bought the other pack at the craft store with a coupon of course) and a giftie "just because" for Ami.
Just love the puffy envelopes.
And a few words to fellow stitchers- Keep an updated wishlist. You just never know what could fall into your lap, er mailbox, someday. :)

Hey I am running a very simple exchange over to the Flossmoms site. It's a single thread exchange. Sort of a simple and quick way to get things going over there. I thought it could help us get to know each other.
So only a little over an hour from now it will be locked up and then names matched up and sent off..... Tomorrow anyways, for the matches and contacts I mean. *Le sigh, I am tired.

exchange update, whoops!

Here it is! Dorothy received her hand dyed piece from me in the mail. She let me know it had arrived and I forgot to post the final picture here! Duh!
The marbling isn't what I had hoped it would be. But it's not too bad for a first try I guess. I was trying to be careful not to go too dark.
The details: 15" x 18" piece of 32 count linen by Charles Craft.