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!

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!

interesting take

DMC's newsletters might be getting a little more interesting.
There was a free pattern of one of the squares of the Stitchopoly Game they have put out. The "Stitch-opoly Diva of Stitching, Emma Broidery™" is mentioned (news to me!) and the design tied in to the game, being one of the squares you can land on. It's cute. A butterfly design.

I think I need to see first hand how those Satin threads feel.
You believe me, don't you?
Looks as though they may have just renamed the rayons, which I love, though they jump while you stitch with them if you go too fast, but they feel like heaven through your fingers. Pretty.

Friends

I was taken back today. Stunned really.
This is the shortened version.......
My neighbor K. called to ask me what the good online shops were for getting threads. She needed some she said to finish a UFO. I couldn't remember which thread it was but I do remember it was one that you can't get around here. So I told her, with rates for shipping and such.
She then called to to tell me she emailed me with a list of what she was getting and that I could add on something and pay her back if I wanted. I said I would take a look and shop around more online for her once I saw what she was after- never know what deals I can find for her!
Hours later I got to my email to have a peek and couldn't see her email anywhere! Just as I was about to check my junk folder, then call her if still not there, I recognized the ABCStitch email addy. In the subject was a message about a gift certificate.
Oh, my. I couldn't believe it. She had really tricked me. Whoah.
She didn't have to really.
*blush

so here I am - all misty eyed.
Thank you K.
:)

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.

Just when you think....

.......you are nearing the end.


I don't have the Holiday set yet either. Me wants!

Goodies for me and others

And here we are. A pic of the lovelies! One item is missing (it's an RAK, so it will be pictured at a later date). Several of the Kreiniks and beads are going to my floss kid Anne R . The others are going to someone else- to right a wrong. The book, patterns (Sitting Pretty and The Blues, by Valerie Pfeiffer) and one card of the Wisper is mine, all mine!

Got Stash?

I do!
The mail didn't make here through the storm Saturday (Grr, no excuse! It's Maine!)
SO- today I ventured out to my very crammed mailbox! There were three (four actually, but my prescription doesn't count) puffy envelopes.
My order from Needlework Plus arrived with the Estaz threads I have wanting for a couple years now, and the DMC rayons I ordered. Thank you Jenna for the recommendation! (My first ever order through that company and I have to say the owner's communication is excellent!)
From 123 Stitch my back ordered emerald cabochon hearts (they are little treasure type things) arrived with the correct sized white Monaco. Oh my word, the fabric is huge!

And.... grab your paper towels! My Hand dyed Fabric Exchange item arrived all the way from Val in England. It's purple! And it gorgeous. I don't know how she managed to marble it as she did. I couldn't have asked for anything better. (yikes, hope mine is up to that level! But I ordered a piece from Silkweaver as back up, so it should help take the pressure off me a smidge.) My picture doesn't do it justice. Makes it more grey then its true color. If you could see it in person! Wow.Thank you Val it's beautiful!

What's that? What Fabric Exchange? Well I forgot to mention it! Hee hee. Over at the Linabear forum we are having a hand dyed fabric exchange. I was the organizer, which is very fun btw. We were to dye a piece of fabric 13"x18" or larger of 28ct or higher count fabric. The send out date is the first of April. So- wish me luck!

more to love

I placed my first Paypal order online through needlework plus for Estaz threads and a "few" of the rayons "just because". I have had the ballerinas for some time. I had been just waiting to get the Estaz threads to go with it. No sense to start without knowing what I would have for the finishing tu-tu, geting colors to go together and things. All I could find for ages were colors like gold and pardon the expression, but, "Blechk!"
The rayons may give it that more realistic leotard look too. Plus they are sort of shiny and me likes the shine!
I plan to make one for my daughter's room. She can pick out the colors she wants. I am guessing a blonde, blue eyed girl, because that's what she is. But who knows. She seems to be leaning towards green for the outfit so far.
Depending how that one goes, and how long it takes, I may make some more ballerina girls.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Now about the glasses......
My glasses, which I loved and have had for oh maybe 4+ years (I never really keep track of that you know ), bit the dust last night. I now have one armed glasses. Precariously perched on my face. And my planned appointment to get glasses (which I was going to make even before these broke) just now I have to hurry things up a bit, 'cause you know appointment first at the eye doctor which I don't remember who I had except for the last guy which I didn't like. So it's more of who I had before him. So I managed to get into a new Dr. today, 3 hours before said appointment (gotta love cancellations). Now I am shopping for specs. (insert cough, choke and sputter here over the price) The final place I have a coupon for wasn't open today. So I will call first to make sure they are and hop on over tomorrow morning. Wish me luck. I may look like the new old me!
How's this for strange? I am not as nearsighted, but my astigmatisms are worse.

Wishlist

Updated April 15, 2008

L&L, Passione Ricamo, Mirabilia,etc:

~Romantic Stitcher by Passione Ricamo

~Earth Angel

~Snow Days

~Enchanted Alphabet

~Button Box Babies: Angel Girl



San Man Originals:

~A Little Lovin' in the Oven




Miscellaneous:

~Sit and Knit

~Be Silly, Etc.

~Nemo


Pattern books/booklets:

~Pamela Kellogg's:
"Elegant Crazy Quilt Seam Treatments" Volume 1

~Rudolph merry present to me!

~DMC Flower Fairies

~Purple Pansy Angel

~Birthstone Fairies

~Chinese Calligraphy




Valerie Pfeiffer Birds:

~Lady In Red

~Sitting Pretty

~The Blues

~Chorus Line


Birds:
~Haiku

~Chickadee Christmas

~Jingle Birds

~Feathered Friends

~One Bird Caroling

~Cardinals and Dogwoods

~Baby Birds

~A Vision in Red

~Nestling Sampler



Sweetheart Tree and Just Nan:

~Amethyst Snowflake

~Victorian Violets

~Pointsettia Gingham

~Lavender Luminescence

~Enchantment

~In the Land of the Free


Threads and other dodads:

~Glissen Gloss ESTAZ Thread

~Wisper thread

~Mill Hill Treasures and Beads
..especially crystal or glass! ;)

~DMC Rayons!

~Threads of any kind, I am not picky and love to try new things



Knitting and Crochet:
~Bamboo yarn