stash.....

One Happy Flosskid.

aha!

I just got word (I know I couldn't remember my password on Myspace for ages, and being a super low priority I didn't take the time to reset it or have it sent to me, anywhooooo!) I just got word that my relocated neighbor has set up a little shop for you folks to check out on Etsy.....From the Hip Creations.


I just realize with this entry that I hadn't posted in a month!
sorry 'bout that.
I have had a lot on my plate in this so called life.

Tootles!

Laying Tool

This is my new laying tool. I ordered it from Tazlover (Rachael) from EMS. She makes them, so nice, and carves it all herself and everything! Isn't it awesome? When she asked me if I wanted my initials carved into it I said yes, and asked that my username's letter P be on it instead. It's just soooo smooth, and sooo nice!

*sigh*

My stash is very happy now.

The ABC's of Me.

I can't really give any sort of info as the two things I happy danced about have been mailed off to their new homes. So, until they reach them..... All I can really mention is that I have joined the Monopoly SAL. And the craft stores here don't have cuts of 18 ct big enough and since I was thinking about doing it on 36ct anyways I may just order that instead.

I will be running another exchange over to EMS- this time an Altoid Tin exchange. Sign ups start tomorrow.

I haven't been sleeping well lately. Here's hoping that eases up.
*********************************
Now for fun

Stolen from Sandra of Painting with Threads.

The ABC's of me
A - Available or single?:
Neither, I'm married.

B - Best Friend?:
I have many friends and they're all the bestest.

C - Cake or pie?:
Mmmmm pie. Especially pumpkin pie!

D - Drink of choice?:Coffee.

E - Essential item I use every day:
toothpaste ;)

F - Favorite color?:
purple

G - Gummy Bears or Gummy Worms?:
Um, no thanks.

H - Hometown?:
Saco Maine

I - Indulgence?:
Edy's Slow Churned Choclate Fudge Chunk in a sugar cone with chocolate sprinkles.

J - January or February?:
January. I will get presents!

K - Kids and names?:
Sorry I don't post those publicly.

~ Where did "L" go?~ I'll make it up then.....
L- Late or early?:
Usually early.

M - Marriage date?:
June 29, 1996

N - Number of siblings?:
One sister and three stepbrothers.

O - Oranges or apples:
Apples

P - Phobias or fears?:
Heights. Blood pressure cuffs.
*shudder

Q - Favorite quote:
"In two days tomorrow will be yesterday." (author unbeknownst to me)

R - Reasons to smile:
My kids, fresh windy days, each day being a new day.

S - Season:
Fall.

T - Tag 3 or 4 people:
Oh I'd say AnneR, Val, Kathy and AnnieB.

U - Unknown fact about me:
I collect Crayola crayons. :) Or have I already mentioned that? *shrugs

V - Vegetable you don’t like:
brussel sprouts (I tried, I really did); cauliflower (Hated it as a kid and refuse to try it now. I'm a grown up now and I don't have to!); kale (texture). Whoops sorry I thought that was plural.

W - Worst habit:
Procrastinating. I'll talk about that later.....

X - X-Rays?:
Ankle, arm, and dental.

Y - Your favorite food?:
Lots of those-Ice cream! Punky pie!

Z - Zodiac sign?:
Capricorn.
Chinese: Rabbit, I think.

New Designer!

Linda, the designer of Happy Hour Needleworks is up and open for business!

Not to mention One Star's Light is having a 20% off sale too.


SO go on and shop, shop, shop!

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.

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!

Technically, it's Thursday.

Just a note about the Flossmoms essay for all you flosskids out there. Don't let the word "essay" scare you. Think from the heart and write accordingly...... ;) It's not the length or fancy wording that's being judged. If it's one line, that's okay. If it's more, even better. What ever you need to use to say what you feel.



Spring time! I forgot to write down the exact date I heard the lovely music of those little spring peepers but they have been singing their little hearts out.


And about those darn birds...
I sent another email and got a response. Not the one I wanted naturally, but a polite response:

Dear Angela,

Thank you for your inquiry. However, I have checked our records and find the item you are requesting has been discontinued and is no longer available. Our records also indicate that our stock has been depleted. I'm sorry, but we do not maintain a referral list for other sources.

Thank you for your understanding.

*name removed* then the contact info.

Looks as if I am at the mercy of eBay.

seeing double

Thank you so much, Aury! I couldn't believe you even found the picture! I was even thrilled at seeing the red print stating that it was out of stock. That's what "contact us" is for! hee hee!
When I went to the site I thought how cool it was set up just like Herrshner's. Then I clicked the "contact us". Um, the phone number, address... yup, it's the same info! *chuckles.
Guess the quest for the cute little red birds is not done!

It's sad I guess. Having this "thing" for cute, little fat birds.

Jingle Birds hunt

Okay, I have posted at EMS and a friend posted for me at 123 Stitch.....

I am on a mission to get this chart (pictured)

Jingle Birds

Seems it was at Herrschner's but they no longer carry it. It was a kit on plastic canvas. I plan to do it on fabric I think, but anywho....
The only other source or name we have been able to come up with is Jingle Birds.
A UK site has a larger pattern, but it's a bit more than I would like to pay. (below)
I was hoping a US source, of either, would be doable.
So, if anyone knows of any shop or person willing to part with this design, either of them really, give me a holler. We'll talk. I have a considerable stash of things I could trade.

yes I have a thing for fat little birds

show time?

I got to talk with Michelle Lutzen, the designer and owner of Stitchy Kitty today! Honestly, I don't know what possessed me to pick up the phone and call, but, I did! I was expecting to get the answering machine. Then I would have left a nice, "I bought your Snowman Trio design and just love it", message. But I got to talk with her about everything wonderful in cross stitching.

Ms. Lutzen mentioned the Celebration of Needlework Show in Nashua, New Hampshire. She said she signs all of the charts she sells there. (She'll be there Friday and Saturday.) I had heard a smidge about the show but hadn't paid much attention to it since I thought it would be too far away.
It's not.

*gears are turning*

I think I might try to ask Knitty Kitty if she'd like to go on a little day trip!

To see stacks of goodies, from shops... the threads.... the fabric... Mmmmmm....

button, button, I didn't order the buttons....

I didn't know that the Snowman Trio uses buttons for the design. Sheesh, how did I miss that? So I should have ordered this set. I think I will wait and see if the mittens are charted in stitches, if they are, I'll just stitch them; otherwise I will have to order them. Grrrr.

(I woke up at 6am. Who does that without an alarm clock on a Sunday morning?)

I have my seed tray. Soil. My "Spring Fever brain".... I am going to start some veggies (I'll list those in detail later), geraniums and some sunflowers. Sunflowers really have a wow factor, don't you think? It's worth seeing the kids' faces. I keep wanting to do snapdragons, maybe I will this year. Not sure when those can go outdoors here in Maine.
I love starting seeds, even if I end of giving everything away! It's the sprout popping through the soil that makes me so happy. If we were rich I would have a greenhouse and a large sun room filled with plants. Maybe if I save my pennies I could do that around retirement ;) .
The tomatoes are a first for me to start. Each year our friend R. has an organic garden. It's his most favorite hobby. He shares the cucumbers, tomatoes,lettuce, cantaloupes, beets and tons of other things with us. We help in giving him our compost year round (an intricate set up utilizing the freezer and buckets-with lids). Plus, last year I started some seeds for him- just sunflowers- nothing carrying real importance in our stomachs. This year I am turning it up a notch. Though I think he understands that I don't want to waste any of those expensive seeds. So what I am doing is still going to help him out, plus we'll have some tomatoes for us to grow in containers this year. We are up to our ears in clay here, so containers are the way to go for us.
~I will probably take progress pics. :)

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.

This'n That

Before I forget to mention it - Silkweaver is selling tuck pillows on eBay. Not a bad price at all.

It's snowing again, seem as though winter will never end! We are supposed to get at least 6inches with this one and possibly a good foot. This winter we are approaching record breaking snow. Yippee.

Today is the release of Pamela Kellogg's "First Robin Of Spring" Mystery Stitch-Along. Which is funny as I have had a group of robins hanging out all winter in my yard along the edge where the trees canopy and Spring is still nowhere to be found.

Thank you all for your thoughts and comments. I miss Chris E. terribly. I am still filled with regrets. But I am functioning now. Talking about it has helped me. This may surprise you all but I am a normally very positive, glass-half-full person. Pidy has helped me too, cuddled up now on my lap as I type, purring.

Valentine's Day

to everyone

Tam's Creations has new designs for Valentines Day!

I stitched.

It's been an awful day with the flossmoms site and email. I have created a temporary solution on the forum as I was maxing out over it this morning. Now on to better things with lots of pictures.

Last night, I stitched. I finished that da&% bookmark. It didn't really have that much left to do, I was so surprised with that. For some reason I had myself thinking there was so much more left. But- there wasn't!
Now all that is left (this is where I usually get hung up) is the finishing. I have to cut it up and make it look pretty.
I don't like cutting things up. I tend to mess up. Somehow I always seem to find a way to goof them up! Keep your fingerscrossed for me.
Today I managed a trip with B. (one of my awesome neighbors) to Joanns. They are having a sale today on DMCs -only 5 for a dollar! I need 10 of number 718 for my flosskid Val and they only have 3. So looks as though I will have to trek out to AC Moore anyways to get the rest. Too bad as I was hoping to get them at that deal. It was fun though. I needed a kid-free trip out with a girl friend.
Once we got back to our houses it was decided by the husbands (doesn't that phrase mean trouble?) that we were heading up to their house to watch the game. It was originally going to be me and kids there, with the husbands at my house. So having this incredible renewed energy to stitch I had to make a fast grab for something to stitch. My magazine was out with the free Margaret Sherry kit of the two kitties together. I made a photocopy to scribble on and out the door I went!
I am so happy. I got to stitch some more!

Oh yeah, the game?

• The clam dip with chips was good
• The Patriots won
• The kids had a blast playing all together
• I had a really good time.
• and I don't think that kitty will be blue.

Saturday was a BIG mail day for me. I received two awesome packages!
My Birthday present arrived from Val. She has told me she had mailed it out. I had no idea what it would be, just a hunch that it was stitched. Her stitching and finishing is impeccable.
She stitched a design by a fellow EMSer, Cariad837 aka Linda and it's absolutely beautiful. A pin cushion and scissor keeper set. Just awesome!!!!!!
They are covered in beads. It's amazing to the touch. So WOW.
Now for the pics

Designer: Happy Hours Needleworks
Design: "Lace Collection"
The pin cushion:



The matching scissor keeper:


The next parcel I received from the "Ride the Love Train" at San Man Originals' message board. This is where you agree to "get on the train" and will be sent something by who posted before you. Then the person who posts after you is who you send to.
I will be sending to Canada.
I received from a nice lady named LaDawn. (THANK YOU AGAIN LADAWN!)
It was gorgeous! A giant super shiny red, bubble envelope came filled with a cute pair of Valentine's socks, a little box of chocolates, a nice card, a small zipped purse, Valentines stickers, three pieces of coordinating floss and a card!
She had wrapped it up in tissue paper with the fancy heart printed cellophane over that. It was sooo perfect. I felt so spoiled.
I don't know why I am so in to Valentine's Day this year. The colors, the gift giving/ goodie making... all of it. And I don't normally do much of anything for Valentine's. Maybe with the weather as it's been and the bad luck of late it's just what I need.

I now have the threads for the freebie SanMan project I have been dying to do

thank to KnittyKitty who ordered it for me.


The bad news. My dryer isn't working. I will have to call a repair person Monday it seems, if they are open during the holiday. If not I will just leave a message. I can still wash things. I'll just stick to shirts that can be hung on hangers and go that way. It'll be just too cold to hang stuff out on the line.
*sigh

request and a watched pot

The request
My Blogiversary is coming...


Here's my wish:
I was hoping anyone who reads here could post, just that once, a quick "Hi" on my anniversary day. I would really love to hear from everyone, even the quiet ones. If you want to say more, even better, but a quick hi would be great.
Thank you
~~~~~~

You know how they say, "A watched pot never boils"? Well by "giving up" today we got two things we were waiting for.
Item one was my camera. I was told Saturday when I bought it, that it would arrive either Monday or Wednesday. When I checked the status Sunday and Monday it stated that it was due to arrive Friday, the 28th. That's after Christmas folks. I really thought I would at least have it the day after.

Item two- Hubby's rechargeable battery for his tool and light set through Sears. They were out of them last Wednesday. So I got a raincheck for it. I really hoped they would call before Christmas. I called this morning, speaking of which, did you know they don't open until 9am? And the girl answered the phone to tell me that I had 8 more minutes! Hee hee. Well she took my number, and when I called back about a half hour later (funny she didn't call me back?) they looked and said it wasn't there and they had no idea when it would be.

So we decided to go out as a family and spend some of our gift cards.
We returned a few hours later having hit Toys'R Us, WalMart and Hannaford with piles of groceries and bags of Legos and DVDs in hand -there it was, a Staples box sitting right in front of the door in the freezing rain covered in plastic (thank you UPS).
We came in and started unloading. Checked the caller ID, yup, Sears called. And we were across the street from them when we were shopping!
See, as soon as I gave up, they "happened".

I LOVE my camera!

present time!

On Saturday:
I have been wrestling with my digital camera on and off for sometime now. It's a 1.3 megapixel camera with very little zoom. I bought it for a deal a couple years ago and it has served me well for what I paid for it. Right now I can take pics but can't load them into the computer, which is rather pointless and only happened about 2 days ago.
Hubby asked me to go shopping with him for my present. I was supposed to be baking all day for presents for a get-together today and for the neighbors and said as such. He asked again. I had a feeling it was for a camera since he had said I might want to go with him because I might want something specific. The only specific things that he won't or can't get for me are computer related. So I knew it was something "fun".
The kids told me on a 1, 2, 3 count what it was.....
Hmm, stay home and bake or go get a new camera? I grabbed my coat!
We struck off with sale flyers in hand.
Not long after that I have a Sony on its way to me (we didn't buy it there nor at that price). They were sold out in store and it's being sent to my home. It came with a 1GB card for free. Bonus!
So now I am expecting a new camera at my door either tomorrow or the day after Christmas.
I was planning on saving for a new camera this year anyways. I had planned on using any gift cards and such to get it between my birthday and Christmas. I love the ones I have seen that take video, and zoom so nicely. Plus now I will be able to get nice shots of the falling snow, and have the snow show!
Thank you DH.
:)
Oh and I made a double batch of ginger molasses cookies later on that evening. Yum!



**************
Today we went to my sister's house for a Christmas celebration. It was a nice get-together with my Dad, Stepmom, Sister, her four kids and Fiance, my DH, DS, DD and I.
We nibbled on turkey wraps and BLT's, veggies with dip, fruit with yogurt dip and cookies. Yummy! The kids were happy, noisy and fun. The adults were about the same I guess!
It was nice day.

Tomorrow, Christmas Eve, will be quiet in preparation of the next day.
On Christmas Day my MIL, FIL and BIL come up and we eat and exchange gifts. The gifts normally take quite a while. We don't have turkey or ham as most do, we usually have cold cut sandwiches with veggies, olives and pickles. That way anyone who is hungry can eat when they feel like it.
I will see my Mom and Stepdad once they return from a trip out-of-state to visit with my Aunt T.


Merry Christmas everyone!

The last thread

WOOT! And a huge thank you to Paula D who saved the day with a link to Fibers and Threads an online shop in New Hampshire who just happened to have the Indian Summer!!!!!!!!
So for a whopping $2 and no shipping I will have the last color of thread on the way to me so I can stitch the "Seasons" San Man Originals freebie pattern I have been dying to stitch for ages (it's way down at the bottom of that linked page) ...... Well once the bookmark for the way overdo exchange is done and sent. I know better than to do anything until that one is done.
The remainder of the needed threads is on the way by now too I think, thanks to KnittyKitty. I am paying her back with cash.

Stitcher's Corner

Look what I found!
There is a local brick and mortar cross stitch shop in Maine! This is after years of Googling and scouring the yellow pages with next to nothing coming up!
I was looking on the Olde Willow Threads site for retailers, which led me to a site which led me to a site (-you know how that goes) which brought me to Stitcher's Corner. :)
Located in Wiscasset (okay still an hour away or so for me) it's locally owned by a stitcher. Very small town feel from what I can tell, which is a plus! To have a business owner who stitches and knows what you are talking about! *goldmine*
I talked for some time with her on the phone. No she doesn't have Olde Willow, and since retail sales are slow, bad economy that it is, she probably won't offer it any time soon. Can't blame her there, she says that when she stocks a product like thread, she will order the whole line.
Look at the stuff she has! Oh my, I think there will be an afternoon trip sometime soon. She even carries some fabric cut right there!!!! But until then I can call the toll-free number and order away!
Maybe KnittyKitty will come with me....... Quality girl time!



Oh and I am looking for #015 Indian Summer in Olde Willow. I shudder to think I may have to place an order online where the shipping costs more than the thread! Just for one piece of thread!
If anyone knows of a place near them or with good shipping prices on Indian Summer, could you drop me a comment here?