PIF Monday

This week there are 2 Ewe & Eye & Friends charts. The first is Autumn Leaves.



The second is Bunny In A Basket.





The pictures are the ones that I stitched. For these 2 charts the drawing will be on Sunday October 10th. If you are interested in receiving these charts, please leave a comment on this post.

It is still raining here. Everyone, drive safe today.
Have a good week.

Chris
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Stitching update

There was only a little stitching this week. I am continuing to work on this Primitive Needle freebie. During the week I stitch a little on my lunch break but that is about it.


I am hoping to get this finished this week. I am working a couple of nights and I didn't get my pesto made today so I need to do that one night too.



It has finally cooled off and is actually raining. I have opened up the house. I love fall, cool mornings and comfortable days. There is not much color here. All of the leaves that have come down are brown and dried up due to the lack of rain.



I did make some oven roasted cauliflower. Garlic, lemon, olive oil and some grated parmesan, YUM!

Now I am going to get a little more caught up on my tv shows and stitching.

Chris

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Chart winner of the week & blow out #2

Not many entries for the EEF chart this week. This week's winner is Lindsay!!! Please send me your mailing info.
Next week I am not going to be home on Sunday so I am going to double up the charts tomorrow and the drawing will be om Sunday the 11th. Check back tomorrow to see the chart.

Rich and I started out on our hike this morning and got up this hill that has been kicking my butt and what happens??? Another blow out!! I am very disappointed.  I guess that I have to look for a new pair of hiking boots. Not many places in town to find something like that.

Well, off to get a shower. I will post a stitching update later.

Chris

A Day With Zippy

Zippy is the name of my Mini. She is the green car in this line up. We also call her Zips. She will be 3 in December.

Today was Minipalooza, the NC Mini rally.



The rally started in the parking lot of the Old Salem visitor center. Rich and I drove up to Winston early so that we could stop and get a bagel. Asheboro really doesn't have a place for bagels, not even a Dunkin' Donuts. About 40 Minis showed up for the drive.



The start off was kind of confusing. They drove off in groups and they were supposed to drive the speed limit and keep the Mini in front and behind you in sight. We went through Old Salem and up 52 to 8 towards Pilot mountain. These people zoomed off. The route we took was on a lot of winding back roads driving way too fast. I wasn't really comfortable with the speed they drove going thru some residential areas and on some of the roads. The route was pretty. It took us through Danbury and Booneville.



After almost 3 hours we ended up at Westend Vineyards.



There were about 70 Minis. All lined up. There was BBQ for lunch, a wine tasting and live music.



Rich and I had a good time and met some nice people. I have to say that the power wagon crowd is nicer. They watch out for each other and are more safety conscious. That rally is usually the end of April.
Rich and I headed back out and stopped in Winston Salem for some retail therapy for me and a new pair of sneakers for work.



So home for dinner, a walk up and down the driveway and once I am done here, some stitching.

I hope that everyone had a great fall weekend. Hopefully it is our last 90+ degree day for 2010.

Have a good evening.

Chris

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Technical upgrade

I recently got an iPad. You know how it is when you get a new computer or smart phone.....it is a huge time suck. I am trying to figure out everything I want to use it for. I am trying to convert my paper planner over to this(I now have to figure out what to stuff my coupons in?). I am learning how to download my pictures and to blog, email, play solitaire and download music and books. I know that it is going to be fun and make things easier but right now there is a learning curve.

It also means that I am not stitching much. Tomorrow night I am just coming home after work so after dinner maybe I will be able to settle down and stitch. This is a sampler that I finished last year. This is Sarah Boone from Berks County, PA.

I hope that everyone is having a great week. It is still in the 90's during the days here, but hopefully next week it will be cooler.

Thanks for all the comments.

Good night!

Chris

PIF Monday-Ewe & Eye & Friends Baa...... Humbug chart

Here is the chart giveaway for the week. It is one of the Blacksheep night charts from EEF. This is my stitched version. He is cute.

If you would like to give this chart a new home please leave a comment on this post. I will draw a name on Sunday.

Happy Monday!

Off to work....

Chris

EEF Flower Scissor Companion Chart

Rich assisted me again this week with the drawing. The winner is Kat!
Thanks everyone for your kind comments and for helping this chart find a new home.  Kat please send me your mailing address so I can send this off to you.

Rich and I went to see The Town yesterday evening. I liked it a lot. If you liked The Departed you would like this one.

Well, I am going to go take a walk, get a shower and head off to work.
Check back tomorrow for the upcoming week's PIF chart.

Chris

Blow out...

This is how my morning started out. Rich and I went to start our Saturday hike and about 8 minutes in...bam!  The sole came almost completely off my hiking boot. Now the truth is that they were quite old and well worn. They climbed Mt. Washington and Jefferson and hiked all the AT in CT. So I am kind of sad. Rich and I have really not hike the past ten years or so and we are trying to get back to it. It is good quality, meditative time for both of us. I can definitely use the exercise too. So what to do, we headed back to the house where I had a backup pair and we went and did a 5 mile hike.

   It was a busy week here. I worked my second job a couple of nights, had dinner with friends and stopped by to see my Mom. It continues to be in the 90's here. Next week, more of the same. It is so dry and hot. We need rain badly and I want it to be cooler. Hurry fall!

I finished stitching the Handwork 2005 JCS ornament. I decided to leave off the yellow background around the hearts, thanks Faye and Myra for the feedback :)  Hopefully I will do the finishing next month.

I am looking at another busy week. Dinner with friends Monday & Tuesday, working Thursday, Minipalooza Saturday...time is flying by. I can't believe it is the 2nd half of September.

This is my new start. By The Light of The Moon freebie by the Primitive Needle. I like the squiggly tree. I needed to do something fall themed and I am not in the mood to start or pick up a sampler right now.
  The rest of my day off is spent doing some housework, going thru some things and hopefully stitching. Tomorrow it is back to work!

I hope that everyone has a great weekend.

Happy Stitching!

Chris

PIF Monday-Ewe & Eye & Friends Flower Scissor companion

Here is the chart of the week. I stitched this quite a few years ago. If you would like this chart please leave a comment on this post and I will draw the recipient on Sunday. Check Sunday's post and if you are the winner send me your mailing info. Easy, Peasy!

I hope that everyone had a great weekend. Mine was busy, I ended up working more than I had planned. This week is going to shape up the same way. After work today Rich and I had to run some errands, grocery store, gas station, & Subway for dinner. Tomorrow dinner at a friends, Wednesday & Friday working after my 8-5 job. Needless to say I will not be stitching much!

This is my stitched version of the chart...see, it is still not finished. Maybe this year it will be completed. Last year I worked on finishing in October and November. I am going to try it again this year, as it worked out well for me.

Well have to get some stuff done!
Good Night.

Chris

Pay It Forward Sunday

Ok, I had time this morning before work to do the drawing for this PIF chart. My husband was very intrigued with this whole process and assisted me by folding up entries and then drawing the winner....

is Trillium!!!! Please send me your mailing info and I will get this chart out to you.
Thanks everyone for your interest in this. I like the charts to find a new home :)
Stop back tomorrow to see this upcoming week's PIF chart.

I hope everyone has had a great week. I have been very busy at work. I had a memorial service to go to Thursday night, so I got home really late. Saturday was my day off for the week. Rich and I went for a 5 mile hike in the morning and then I went in and worked my second job for 4 hours. They just rolled out a new system and the adjustment is a little rough. Last year when I was working in California and Hawaii, this is the system that we used...now 1 year and 3 months later it is finally here :) Not quite like riding a bicycle :)

Here is my stitching progress for the week. Not much!! About the only time I have stitched is on my lunch break at work filling in the green border and the hearts. I have had to dive into the stash to find some more Forest Glade GAST. The lot is a little darker but at this point I want this done. The center background is supposed to be Summer meadow. I know the floss that was sent with the kit will not cover all that I need, and as it is kind of a yellow, I am thinking about just leaving that part off. Any thoughts on this? I think I am going to hang onto this one as a Valentine's Day ornament rather than Xmas.

I have to go get a shower to get ready to go into work. I hope everyone has a peaceful day...with some stitching thrown in!

Chris
        

Crunch...Crunch..Crunch

That is the sound when I walk across the grass in the yard. Earl did not drop any rain here and with the high temps, all the plants and trees ae suffering. I would like some nice rain. Rich and I went for a nice hike yesterday morning before it got too hot. It was 60 degrees when we set out. Today Back up over 90.

This is the fabric that I used to finish my  Ewe & Eye Purple Rose Scissor companion. The picture wouldn't load yesterday ?! If you are interested in this chart please leave me a comment telling me so. I will pick a name on Sunday and I will post another "Pay It Forward" chart on Monday.

I think I am tired of stitching Xmas ornaments right now. When I am finished the Handwork ornament I am going to stitch some thing for fall. I have been rooting around in my stash :)

I hope everyone's week is going well.
Thanks for the comments :)

Good night!
Chris

Inspired to clean out....

I have greatly enjoyed reading other blogs and seeing other people's finishes. I have seen a lot of Ewe & Eye Designs out there. Barb and Cam are two of my favorite designers. I am truly sorry that they are no longer designing counted thread charts.
Needless to say I have a bunch of Ewe & Eye charts in my stash. I decided to go look through them, something that I haven't done in a long time. I found that I had tucked away quite a few charts that I have completed. Over the last couple of years I have gotten into the habit of "paying forward" my charts. If I posted a picture on one of the message boards and someone inquired about the chart I would send it off to them. So, I would like to do that with some of these charts.

So the first chart to be mailed off to an interested party is the Purple Rosebud Scissor Companion. The picture above is my finish.
If you are interested in this chart, please leave a comment on this post. Next Sunday I will pick a name and mail the chart off to the winner.
I will probably post another chart next Monday, so stay tuned.

I hope everyone has had a great holiday and will have a great week.

Chris

Autumn Weekend

 Feeling Cooler today. It went from 96 degrees on Friday to 54 degrees this morning. It feels so good.  We opened the house up and slept with the windows open. We are supposed to be back in the 90's during the week and 70's at night.  UGH!  I am truly looking forward to fall.

This is a picture of New Salem Pottery in Randleman, NC. The area of North Carolina that I live in has a very long history of pottery makers. Hal & Eleanor have continued the tradition. There was a pottery on their property in the late 1700's. They do still dig some clay  on their property. They supply the gift shop at Old Salem with some of their pottery.
About 8 years ago I started ordering a Christmas gift for my stitching friends from this pottery and that was my mission yesterday. It past years they have made mugs, spoon rests, or ornaments for me. So, my order is placed, due for delivery the first of December. My first Giveaway will be a piece of pottery, stay tuned.

I had a chance to sit down with the ornament issue yesterday and here is a list of the design that I really like...
-JBW Designs
-Plum Street Samplers
-The Victoria Sampler
-Elizabeth's Designs
-Milady's Needle
-Primrose Needleworks
-Moss Creek Designs
-Ink Circles
-Blackbird Designs
-Cat's Whiskers
-The Sweetheart Tree
-Jeanette Douglas Designs
-Prarie Schooler
-Blue Ribbon Designs
-Sam Sarah
-Little House Needleworks
-Cross Eyed Cricket
-Little By Little
-Legacy Designs
-Country Cottage Needlework
So for the $7.99 investment, I think that I made out. I have been working on my exchange kits from the 2005 issue. When I looked through the magazine, I have already stitched 6 ornaments from it and I have at least 6 more ornament kits to go. So it is going to be awhile before I get to stitching any from the 2010 issue.
Thank you to all the designers who contribute to this issue. It is truly a gift that I look forward to each year.

Here is my progress on my Handwork ornament.
Not much this week. I am trying not to be aggravated over the small cut of fabric. I think that I will try finishing it flat with the felt backing. The more that I look at this, the more I think it is better as a valentine's day ornament. The center background is stitched in a yellow. I have not decided if I want to fill it in yet.

That's it from here. I have to go get a shower & get ready for work.

Have a peaceful Sunday!
Chris

Thank you for putting me out of my misery....

Thanks for all the comments. It is comforting to know that I am not alone in my excitement over the annual JCS ornament issue. I went to my EGA meeting last night and was able to fondle a friends copy. Did she have to pry it out of my fingers?? Almost. My husband is usually off on Fridays and he will drive me to Greensboro for my job and pick me up afterwards so that we can run errands and have dinner. Today, wonderful guy that he is, he stopped by the local needlework store to pick up my copy. So I have looked through it once and I am pleased. There are quite a few that I would like to stitch. I will let you know my favorites after I have spent some more time with it :)

Here is a peak at the mystery band sampler that Louise Henderson of Cherished Stitches is teaching and designing for EGA chapter. I am just collecting the chart right now.
 
The meeting was good. We are probably going to switch our meeting to the 3rd Thursday of every month. In October we are having a harvest/Halloween party with some fun like pumpkin carving. Hopefully next year we will have a fall/Halloween ornament exchange too.

In December the chapter meeting is our Holiday party with dinner and an ornament exchange. The chapter has a lot of talented stitchers. When I take out my ornaments for Christmas I will post some pictures of the ones that I have received over the years. I always love getting them out and looking at them.

I dropped these off to be framed. These are the samplers that I have finished this year. The one little red and green sampler was started about 7 years a go at Sampler Gathering. The other 2 I started and finished this year. I really need to get back to focusing on some of those BASPs that I have to finish...like MA Tipper(if I say this enough maybe I will start stitching on her again!).

I hope everyone has a nice weekend with stitching time and time with friends and family.

Chris

Stalker

 Yes, I am a stalker. This time of year...news stands, book stores and my mailbox...No One is SAFE!!!!
I can't wait to get my hands on this issue. I like to get 2 copies for my stash. I have stitched so many ornaments out of these over the years.

  For about 4 or 5 years I was involved in a swap based on this issue. I have at least a dozen kits based on the last few years. The exchange has gone away and I really missed it this year. I have been trying to work on getting them stitched up. I have finished all my kits from the 2004 issue, now I am working on the 2005 issue. I am struggling with the Handwork ornament that I have been working on. The piece of linen is hardly big enough. I am also raiding my stash for floss. Hopefully I will have an updated pic this weekend.

  I have EGA tomorrow night. The group is continuing the mystery band sampler. I will try and snap a picture tomorrow. Right now I am not attempting to stitch the piece, I am just collecting the chart. It will be great seeing everyone since I missed last month due to my surgery. I am looking forward to seeing what everyone has been stitching.

Well, I am going to try and stitch a little.
Good Night.

Chris