Not really stitching, yet.....

I have been spending countless hours sorting through my "oh-my-word-I-had-no-idea-I-had-so-many" cross stitch magazines. I admit, I hung on to many, when all I was really interested in was maybe a chart or two inside. So. I have been removing the charts I want to hang on to and creating boxes, (yes boxes), of mags to go.

We have been doing a rather extensive clean out of the house, and since this particular closet is slated for big clean out in the near future I thought I would get started on it now. Time to condense and get organized.

It's been fun though. Looking through all of them again. Plus I've been doing Buffy the Vampire Slayer marathons while sorting. Brutal, I know.

Rusty. With a side of stash.

So, Monday I had the whole house to myself- Husband and The Kids were out for the day together. I had made up my mind that I was going to get a true-blue day off. No work at all. I made, well not so much "made plans", but "estimated" a movie, a book, possibly a nap, and maybe sitting outside with a book, would be the plan.

Here's what happened....

I enjoyed the peace and quiet of not being asked a single solitary thing and making food when and what I wanted at what ever time I wanted. Played on the computer a bit (farrrrrmmmmville!). I watched a movie, called "World's Greatest Dad" - great movie by the way. I had wanted to watch "Taming of the Shrew" (also in my Netflix queue) as it went with my suddenly intense desire to stitch something. I shared this need to stitch with two of my stitchie friends and hours later had watched said movie and started on the Jar SAL from SanMan Originals.

Oh what a riot! :

Ok, where are my scissors? Oh that's where I kept those. Uh huh, I must have had a pencil, oh yeah right with the rest....... It took ages to get started with cut fabric (oh so rusty on fabric sizes, as in how much would be needed for a project X big). Printed of charts. And all the other little details. But OH DIDN'T if FEEL GOOD once that needle started pulling thread through the fabric!

I am one happy girl now!

Yesterday (Tuesday) I opened the door to have a box handed to me. YIPPEEEEEE!

Thank you so much Jenna for my lovely mojo goodies! Kitting up one of my favorite designers, with my most favorite colors- purple and green- and the card! Pansies! I am just blown away.

And the needles were absolutely fantastic too, as the one I found and had started using was tarnished somehow.... Lol. :]

I have missed my stitchie friends.
I have missed stitching.

I have missed collecting and mailing things to people.

It's been about 2 years! Sheesh.

My rusty-self will take and post a photo of my progress at a later date. Not of the back though, yikes! My mojo may have returned but I am seriously lacking in skills now. :P

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.

24 hours with no power.

Yesterday at around 2 in the afternoon or so we lost power. *zip!* Gone. I was midpost for Annie's blog award (thank you Annie!) and had to make a fast shut down as the rumbling-in-the-distance thunder finally got closer. It had been rumbling for quite a while. So it was pretty slow moving, or at least it seemed so!
I was on a blogging high too. I had posted some of exchange items, the giveaway and a birthday present (refresher) and our anniversary pics. Thank you all for the nice comments. You were all too kind! We do look so young there, and to think, we were only 20!

Anywho.... We lost power from then on. Apparently a tree fell on a wire on our little side road. That's why it took so long for them (Central Maine Power) to reach us. Gorham and Standish- neighboring towns- seemed to get the worst of it. I feel lucky as the hail damaged our outside light, nothing a quick trip to Home Depot can't fix!

The "kicker" is when I was picking up the broken glass off the deck I got stung by a yellow jacket. Two benadryls and it was better. Killed the little bast*** too!

So with no power, nor water, flushing and so on.... I kept busy. :) See? What's a stash addict to do? Wind threads of course! I lit about 20 candles in all I think, trying to conserve our flashlight/lanterns, plus it creates a mood. You know? I managed to do quite a few. Plus I discovered a few (lots of fews) threads I had forgotten about.

I had been putting the light effects, variations, the hand dyeds, Anchors and other special flosses willy-nilly into this box. Well, I have started neatening that box! Not too sure how many will go into that segmented box (pictured), but at managed to get a bunch of the variegateds wound and ready. :)

*Lotta- the sticker is made by Jolees By You. Oddly enough the two I found online don't look quite as nice as the one I had bought. They are really nice as they have a nice layered felt-fabric feel to them. That's about what I paid for it too.

Flower!

But despite having to throw away most of what's in my fridge/freezer, I noticed this! I think it's my very first poppy growing in the pansy pot. I had forgotten I had thrown the seeds in with the flowers- not knowing if they would take or not. :) What a nice surprise!

"Four of a Kind"

The mail carrier knocked on my door and handed me a puffy envelope, ! Yeah! I wasn't expecting anything. It was a true-blue RAK, from Daffycat.
Thank you Sharon!!!!!!!!
What an adorable kit, "Four of a Kind", it's by Jeanette Crews. Fat, little birds! And they have such sweet little faces. Oh my word, they are so cute.
Thank you for thinking of me Sharon!

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.

It's a sickness. Has to be!

I had won a special drawing (also a great tutorial) over to Outi's site for a Pendibulle.

I pulled the puffy envelope (have I mentioned how much I LOVE puffy envelopes?) from the mail box and brought it inside, setting in on the kitchen table.
I didn't open it for hours.
Yes, hours!
I have realized this system for getting things done. You know: bills need to be paid, dinner made, laundry folded, blah blah blah.. and the only way I can get these things done when fun stuff come in the mail (this includes my issues of World of Cross Stitch and Cross Stitcher) is not opening them until such-and-such is completed. Then I sit in a comfy place, this time being right at the table, and open those lovely treats.

I took the pictures right away but didn't take them out of the camera until just now. Sorry for the delay.


The Pendibulle is so nice. :) And look, what is that? A pattern too! "Tribe #1" -from Lady P of Periphaeria Designs herself! And a stunning post card with a snowy scene of Finland.


Thank you Outi!

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....

? Quin's

Has anyone ever used Quin's? If so, what did you think?
I am looking to shed some stash but keep hearing worse and worse things about eBay. Had thought about posting a Market Booth at SanMan Originals, but I want to do this is simply as possible, hopefully not losing any money, and reducing stash.
I have a stack of very nice patterns I just will not do.
Any thoughts?

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.

Excedrin update

Thank you for such nice comments and well wishes. It really has helped. :) I have only a dull headache now, and no fever. I think I managed to fight off whatever was getting to me.

but to backtrack:
Once DH had gotten home later that afternoon, I ran out to Hannaford to get some much needed Excedrin (generic this time) and return the recalled yogurt. Too bad too, it is one of my favorite flavors of yogurt. Even in the store I was a locked up mess from the neck up. I was speaking softly, or at least as softly as I could in a loud environment. As soon as I got home I took the excedrin and laid low. I was fever free the remainder of the day too, which helped a great deal. Otherwise DH would have gone to the store for me. (It was partly guilt too, just a few days before I had him return the cantaloupes which were recalled. Feel sort of bad having him do that again.)

The reason why I waited= we are down to one car. DH's car is eating coolant so he's been taking the van to work and I have been carless. Just need to drop the car off at the garage and find out what's happening. I think that's why it has sat in the driveway so long- over a week. We both have a hunch it's big and expensive. And we don't live in an area that's handy to public transportation.

Some more good news. I have been watching the change in the yard. Snow slowly melting away. Birds moving about with more energy, singing like crazy.
Did I mention the pie on my table cooling? Yes, there's a pumpkin pie on my table. Once it has cooled enough I will devour it. If the kids are lucky, I may share a little.

I am in dire need of ink and paper. I must print off the The First Robin Of Spring (SAL) from Pamela Kellogg, and the crazy quilting seam treatment book that I already bought too. ASAP! Naturally I spotted something else there that I want. I loves the fat birds! Yup, "I needs this".

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!!!!!!

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.

Stash update

Things have been added to my stash over the last month or so. Either by online store sales, swaps, RAK and the like. Now for your viewing pleasure. I am having stash amnesia, I don't know what I mentioned and when so I may repeat myself. Ah well.

Jenna contacted me that she had a stack of DMC rayons that she wouldn't be using and asked if I'd like them. *grins, I said yes. So love the rayons. They are a pain to work with. They sort of jump when you use them but they look and feel soooo nice.

Cobweb Corner had a sale for the Rudolph booklet I can't get around here and had been wanting for over a year. Couldn't pass that up!


This is the Mill Hill Kit I mentioned earlier. Love it!

I have given my Etsy account a little exercise too, snagging Pamela Kellogg's Christmas Biscornu and Seasonal Blackwork Biscornu designs. (Boy, she mails fast too! :) )




I received some Six Strand Sweets threads from Tonya on the San Man forum. It was a contest item. I was the lucky poster! They are colors with names like "Witches Brew", "Candy Corn" or "Grape Slushy". They are gorgeous! Not sure which is my favorite.

And lastly, my San Man November & December wishlist post for more SSS threads was granted by a few kind ladies there. I can hardly wait for them to arrive! It's so kind of them to do such a thing for me! I will post pics of those as soon as they arrive.

Shouldn't every day be stash day?

I just read that Vicki received her giveaway goodie from me today. I mailed it out much later than I had anticipated, but it reached her quickly.
Funny this was the best pic I could get of it. Vicki's is so much better!
Sort of hard to see the label, but it's 28ct Platinum Laguna with a Mill Hill rose treasure.
Happy Stitching Vicki!

shopping to soothe the soul.....

I ordered a few things, well not all for me! I ordered the Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue, 2007 Magazine from Jenna at One Star's Light for my flosskid Poppy. (That's a record I think for hyperlinks in one sentence!)
And I got the Mill Hill Kit- Violin for myself.

The Lady in Red design should be on its way tomorrow I think, maybe early next week. I keep thinking it would be a perfect ornament!

Normally I would have picked up the magazine from Border's while I am out and about, but I haven't been out or about much. I took my son to the Dr today. He's had a fever since Monday morning (had to pick him up at school) and it will not let up without back to back meds. I am keeping him home the rest of this week for sure and possibly the beginning of next if he isn't better. The Dr said if he isn't to bring him back in then. Let's hope it breaks and he gets better!
The water is still a smidge bleachy (is that a word?) but it is starting to look cleaner- you don't want to know how bad it was! So I did my first dishes in the sink with tap water in over a week!!!!! YEe-hah! Not the dishes part, just that I didn't have to boil everything before using it!

some good news

I have Lady in Red in the works.
Wish me Luck!