A New Start

I just couldn't wait!! I took a short break from the firetruck, and started the Rose Sampler. This is the progress I made last night. This is going to be HUGE! The material is 19" X 25". Someone was "fussing" at me for doing it on Aida, but I couldn't have afforded a piece of fancier material that large! lol I have never stitched anything monotone, but I am really enjoying this!! Even DD said she might do it, too. She's working on a snowmen kit "Santa" gave her. I'll show her piece soon. I'm going to put this aside (sigh) and finish the charity square! I hope Mr. Frog doesn't show up again!

I've been thinking about a rotation:

• Sunday - Rose Sampler (RS)
• Monday - Charity pieces
• Tuesday - The piece for my son - My Child
• Wednesday - Future Christmas presents
• Thursday - Victorian Christmas Eve (VCE)
• Friday - RS
• Saturday - VCE

How does that sound! I'll try it a few weeks, but I really like working on one thing at a time! I'm afraid I won't ever get anything finished! We'll see!

That's about all for today! Got to finish that charity square before I can start my rotation! Better get started! Have a day full of happy moments, and may God bless you!

Charity Square and Christmas Present

I finally got started on the square for the quilt to honor the firemen who lost their lives in the Charleston, SC, fire. I failed to notice that the instruction sheet said the due date was Jan. 1st. I am furiously working on it! And. of course, Mr. Frog has made an appearance several times! You can see where I had to take out some red. I hope it doesn't show after I stitch it again! After I finish the firetruck, there's only the border and my name and a leaf to do.

Above are the 2 pieces of fabric that DD gave me for Christmas. They're both 28 count hand-dyed jobelan. The piece at the top of the picture is blueberry and the bottom one is raspberry lite. Aren't they beautiful?! I had told everyone that I wanted money to buy fabric, but she was the only one listening. She went to the LNS and picked these out! She wants me to do her something on the blueberry piece. I haven't found anything for it yet. I bought a Mirabillia fairy pattern to do for her and hid it somewhere, and, of course, now I can't remember where I hid it! She might look good on this fabric, but I'm not sure because she is wearing a purple dress. I'm going to have to find her to see if the colors will show up. It was so much fun getting fabby! I never have before!

And this is one of the pieces I want to stitch in 2008! It's called "Victorian Christmas Eve." This is in the Jan., 2008, issue of Cross-Stitch and Needlework. She's by Nora Corbett - and I just bought 2 of her patterns! I already have some 28 count linen (Waterlily) that I'm going to do her on. I'm about to kit up the Rose Sampler that I'm doing as a SAL. I wanted to do it on 32 count linen, but they didn't have any at A. C. Moore or Michael's; and I wanted to use my gift cards. I got 16 count antique white Aida instead. It's okay with me; I still enjoy stitching on Aida!

DD got signed up for her new college classes. She didn't do as well as she should have last semester! She's going to drive me crazy! She just won't apply herself and doesn't believe me when I tell her she has to study!! She doesn't believe anything I say! I know - that's how teenagers are - but still - I do know a few things!! She says she will get serious this semester. She's very intellegent! She was always in advanced classes. She just doesn't put forth much effort! This is so stressful for me! I told her she had to think seriously about whether she wants to go to college or not. If she doesn't, I told her, she could take classes to learn a trade or something. I told her that unless she's going to take her classes seriously, she should just drop out and get a good full-time job! But she said she wants to get a college degree. We'll see what happens this semester!

I have finally done it - my freezer is full!! I have been watching the sales and stocking up on a lot of things and I have filled the freezer! But I don't seem to want to cook! lol I have to get back on my diet. I gained 4 lbs. over the holidays! I know that's not as bad as it could have been, but I've got to get my will power back! Pray for me!!

Well, better go. I need to get to work on that charity square! I'm anxious to start the Victorian Christmas Eve piece and the Rose Sampler! Have a day full of happy moments, and may God bless you!

Lost and Found

I panicked and thought I had lost the ornament above, but I found it this morning! I was trying to get this finished for my DB for Christmas, but couldn't get it finished. I finished it a few days ago. He and my DBIL collect anything with deer on it. I was really excited when I saw this and another deer ornament in one of the bargain books I bought! It's in Donna Kooler's 555 Christmas Cross-Stitch Designs. There is a whole section on Nature Christmas. Although I finished it in 2007, I dated it 2008 because I'm going to give them to the guys next Christmas. I have started the one for DBIL. I'm going to finish it next. They were really excited when they opened their pictures of the deer heads on Christmas. I had a really hard time framing them. The wood of the frames was very hard and I couldn't get the nails to go in to hold the pictures in. I finally taped them in - I hope they stay put! lol I put brown paper on the back so it didn't show. I also lost the little hangers for them. Stupid me - I put them in a ziploc bag and put the bag in a "safe" place. Of course, when it came time to put the hangers on, I couldn't remember where I had put them! lol As my DB was leaving that night, he said, "Vicki, thanks for giving me the head." My sister and mom (who have dirty minds) got a giggle out of that! lol

And the piece above is one that worked up very quickly yesterday. It's a freebie at Cyberstitchers site. I changed all of the colors except the white. It also said to backstitch the snowflakes in dark blue, but I wanted my snowflakes to be white. I bought some little Christmas buttons last month and was glad I could use one on this! This is only the 2nd piece that I have put a button on. I really like this. I'm going to make it into a little pillow that I can hang on my perpetual calendar.

I haven't told everyone what happened at my mom's house on Christmas with DD's boyfriend. DD finally agreed not to ask him to come, but she was there and we had a great time! I went with her to Jerry's family get-together. I have always declined going to it although his family asks me to go every year. Well, this year his sister-in-law (whose house the gathering was at) called and begged me to come; so I went. I had a great time and they all treated me like the prodigal daughter returning home! I plan to go from now on.

DD has broken up with her boyfriend! Hallelujah!! She finally realized that he was a deadbeat and was using her! She finally saw that she deserves better! I hope she can meet a nice guy with a JOB!!! lol

I'm going out in a few minutes - I got 2 gift cards for Christmas - 1 for A C Moore and 1 for Michael's. I want to buy some new material! I got a 50% off coupon for Michael's out of the paper; so I should be able to get something really nice for nothing!

Better go! Have a day full of happy moments, and may God bless you!

Last and First

This is my last finish for 2007. I did it yesterday. It didn't take but a couple of hours. This came from the book Cross Stitch Celebrations Month by Month by Sue Cook. This is one of the books I got from the Bargain Books site I mentioned in an earlier post. There are so many things in this book that I want to stitch!

And this is my first finish of 2008! It's in the book Christmas Ornaments produced by Kooler Design Studio. I started it last night and finished it today! I collect cows, and like to do cow ornaments. Pattern Nut wanted to know where the ornaments in my last post came from. They're in the Dec. 2007 issue of Just Cross Stitch.

This is a huck towel that I was trying to get finished for my XMIL. I couldn't get it finished in time. I decided I wanted it myself! It's not quite finished. I have to stitch the border. It's gold with blending filaments.

And this is the piece I did for DD. I didn't get it finished in time for Christmas either. I finished it day before yesterday. I thought it was going to be my last finish of 2007, but I decided to do the little ornament. I'm going to get some black and white material and make a pillow with this piece. DD really likes it! It's very appropriate for her; she got 2 new purses for Christmas! (Now she has at least 2 or 3 dozen purses!) I have 2 purses - 1 for the summer and 1 for the winter! lol I can't find the book this came out of right now. I'll look for it and name it in a later post!

I am going to set up a rotation this year. I haven't quite figured it out yet. I have so many things I want to do. I want to set aside one night for charity stitching, one night for future Christmas presents, etc. I'm going to do a SAL - my first! It's on the EMS website. It is a large freebie and they will post a new part of it each month. It is a roses sampler. So I'll need one night for working on that. There's also a Christmas Lady in the latest issue of Cross Stitch and Needlework that I want to do. It's by Nora Corbett. I also want to do the Mirabilia piece that I bought to do for DD for next Christmas! I also have at least a dozen WIPs and UFOs that I need to finish! There is just not enough time to stitch all I want to stitch!!!

I didn't have any problems with my depression during Christmas - I guess because I was so busy. However, the last week I have been thinking about my DS all the time! I really miss him! One thing that has set me back is that 2 of DD's friends were killed in a car accident on Christmas Eve. They were 2 guys - both 18-years-old. The one driving was speeding and lost control of the car and hit a tree right in the other boy's front yard! I can't get their parents off of my mind. I know what they're going through! This makes 3 young men we've known that have been killed in car accidents since my son's death. I worry so about my DD. She's a good driver, but I don't know what I would do if something happened to her!

Also last week I got a notice that I have been called up for jury duty. I was called about 2 months ago! I had to have my dr. send another note to the clerk of court telling them to excuse me because of my depression and anxiety attacks! It looks like they could flag my name or something so I wouldn't get called up again!

But I am feeling some better today - the depression is just something I go through after Christmas every year since my DS's death! I am looking forward to a great, new year!

Well, I'd better go and figure out that rotation! Have a day full of happy moments, and may God bless you!

Long Time, No Post

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! I have been SO busy. I can't believe it's been so long since I posted anything! I was almost constantly stitching! Week before last I subbed all week in that special ed. class I had subbed in before! I had a great week! The kids were very sweet. The aide even gave me a gift certificate to AC Moore on the last day. I haven't used it yet! I got the deer pictures framed and my DB and DBIL loved them!! I got all the ornaments done. These are the 4 I did. I did 5 of the above and 3 of the Santas and 2 of the reindeer and birdhouses.



My teacher friends really liked them, and I gave one of the angels to my sister and one of the Santas to my niece. We really had a great Christmas!

Better go! DD got a "Scene It" game from my niece and we're going to play it. We always play a game on Christmas Day! Have a day full of happy moments and may God bless you!

The Piece from Hell!

I've been so busy this week! I took Mom to the dr. 2 times; I went shopping twice; and I spent the day with my sister yesterday. We went shopping, too. We don't see each other very often, even though we only live 1 hr. apart. We are very different and have different kinds of lives. But we love each other and have a great time when we get together!

I'm working on the piece above for DD for Christmas. I wanted to show a pic of the finished piece from the book, but I guess I hid the book so that DD wouldn't see the pic, and now I can't remember where I hid it! lol This is a purse and it says "A purse diva lives here." This has been the most frustrating piece I've ever done! I had done the dark red all the way down the left side and when I started the other side I realized something was wrong on the left side. It took me forever to figure out what was wrong! When I did, it was a mistake in the second row! I had to take all of it out because I had made the same mistake in the next 5 rows!! Then I started it again and got to the end of the right side and it didn't end at the same place that the left side did. It took me forever again to figure out what was wrong! So I had to take out half of the left side and stitch it for the 3rd time! I guess I'm tired and not really paying close enough attention. I'll be so glad when I get this finished. I'm doing it for DD because she loves pocketbooks! Every time we go shopping, she has to buy a new one!! She has more purses than I have owned in my whole life!! I'm going to make this into a pillow like I did for her last year, if I ever get it finished! The ornies are coming along very nicely. I really can't wait to show pics of them!

I'm almost finished with my Christmas shopping. I get a couple of decorating and home magazines along with my xstitch mags, and I usually pass them on to my mom. She told me how much she and my sis loved looking at and reading them. I always forget to take the old mags to Mom. SO I've gotten a magazine subscription for each of them for part of their Christmas presents. When I went shopping with my sis yesterday, she was looking at mags while we were in the checkout line, and she said she wished she had a subscription to a mag. So I think I've done the right thing for them. My mom also wanted some new towels, so I got those for her. I'm doing a small pillow for my sis. I'll show that when I'm finished with it. Now if I could just find something for my niece. Do any of you have any suggestions! She's 30-years-old and has one daughter. I thought about giving her a mag subscription, too, but I can't decide what mag she would like!

Well, I need to start working on that pillow for DD while she's at work. I'm trying to keep it a secret! Have a day full of happy moments, and may God bless you!

Books, Books, Books!

I am so excited!! I found a bargain book site and found a bunch of cross stitch books very cheap!! You know me! I have to buy things on sale or cheap!! lol I ordered 13! It only took a week for them to get to me!

These are the books I got:

1. Jayne Netley's Cross Stitch Animal Collection (has deer patterns in it!)
2. The Best Designs from Donna Kooler
3. Cross Stitch Collection: 101 Original Designs by Claire Crompton
4. 201 Cross Stitch Christmas Designs by Kooler Design Studio
5. Cross Stitch Angels from David & Charles Books
6. Helen Philipps' Cross Stitch Garden Notebook
7. Sue Cook's Wonderful Cross Stitch Collection
8. Cross Stitch Celebrations Month by Month by Sue Cook
9. A Christmas to Remember from Leisure Arts, Inc.
10. Donna Kooler's 555 Christmas Cross-Stitch Designs
11. 555 Little Sayings in Cross-Stitch by Marie Barber
12. Cross Stitch Alphabets from David and Charles Books
13. Donna Kooler's Cross Stitch Inspirations

I LOVE every one of them!! I now have a mile long list of things to stitch!! I figured it up and this is $287.75 worth of books!! I paid $48.80 + $3.50 for shipping for a total of $52.30!! And they were all brand new books! Can you believe it!? This was my Christmas present to me!! I spent over 5 hours last night looking at them, and I can't wait to look at them again! Even if I never stitch anything out of them, they are beautiful books and fun to look at! There is at least a dozen things I want to stitch in each book. So - do you want to know where I got them from? The site is here. There were several that I didn't get. After Christmas I'm going to order the rest of them!! The shipping and handling charge is $3.50 no matter how much you order! I recommend that you check them out!

I have decided to buy gifts for my mom, sister, and niece instead of stitching something for them this year. I'm going to start stitching the tops for the baskets right after Christmas so they will be ready long before Christmas next year!! I would have to stitch constantly to get them finished in time. I always wait too late to start my Christmas stitching! I did that last year and really didn't feel like it was Christmas until Christmas Eve. I'm going to stitch my ornaments and maybe some small things for the ladies in my family, but hold off on the big ones until next year. So I only have to frame the pictures for DB and DBIL and finish the ornaments. Plus I'll have more time to look at my new books! lol

Yesterday was a very busy day! I went with DD to the eye doctor at 9:15. She won't take her contacts out every day, and she was afraid he might fuss at her. She just can't get it through her head that she can destroy her eyes by not taking them out. She's already had an infection in her eyes once because of leaving them in too long! She left them out a week before going to him yesterday. He said they looked fine. Then DD and I ate a late breakfast out. We really enjoyed it! I took her home and went straight to my mom's to take her to the dr. She is still not doing so good! The dr. said the CAT scan didn't show anything wrong with her brain except normal aging. He now wants her to have an MRI. So I will be going with her on Wed. to have that done. Then she and I ate out for lunch at a hamburger joint. Then we stopped at the grocery store. She hasn't been able to drive, and she needed a lot of groceries. She went around in an electric buggy and pointed out what she wanted for me to get. I also picked up a few things for myself! This took us forever! She was really tired when we finished! Then I took her home and took in all of her groceries and she got a LOT!! I also helped her put up the groceries! Luckily when I got home, Jerry was there and got out the groceries I had bought! I picked up fried chicken on the way home for us to eat. I didn't get home until 7:00 pm! I was exhausted!! It was so wonderful to see the box of books waiting for me. So I spent the rest of the time until 12:00 looking at my new treasures! What a day!!

I got so tickled at my furbabies a few days ago. Sugar, the black poodle, got up in my lap. I was cross stitching. She just stood on my lap, staring at me. She does that when she wants something. I couldn't imagine what she wanted! I had already let them go outside, and they had food and water. Then Bebe, the puppy, came over with the dog brush in her mouth and laid it at my feet. I couldn't believe it!! I brushed Sugar and she got down, satisfied! It was probably just a coincidence that Bebe brought the brush, but it really was strange and funny! They do amaze me! Bebe is potty-trained. She either goes outside or goes on the paper I put down. She really just learned it on her own by watching the other 2 dogs. She is so funny when she goes! She knows she has done something wonderful and will jump in my lap, going crazy - jumping around and licking my face to death. I really brag on her and give her a treat! She is a very smart puppy, and does the cutest things! And Jerry just adores her and plays with her all the time! He's an animal person anyway, but I've never seen him make such a do over a dog before! It's really cute! Pets enrich your life so much!

Well, that's about all my news for today. Need to go work on those ornies and rest. I'm going to sub all next week in the same class and in another class the last day the kids go before getting out for Christmas. I'm not going to sub any this week, so I can rest and stitch! Have a day full of happy moments, and may God bless you!