Tuesday

I hope that everyone has gotten into the swing of things since having to go back to work after a long weekend.  I enjoyed my time at home.
This week is busy. I had to stop and pick up an xmas order and get gas after work ,etc. Tomorrow night I am working the second job, Thursday night I have our EGA holiday party and ornament exchange. Friday, Rich has got to take Zippy in for service so he will take me to work and pick me up after, then we will be running errands etc. Saturday is my one day off & we have Rich's workplace holiday party that night.  I am making myself tired.

There will probably not be any stitching. I hope we get started on the xmas cards...sigh. 
I think I need to go to bed now :)
I hope every one's week is great. I will update you on how I make out at the ornament exchange this year :)

Chris

Vacuming

On Thursday when we put up the tree, we vacuumed the living room first. One member of our household hates it when we vacuum! A little while later Rich went upstairs for something and asked me to come up stairs because there was a lump in our nicely made bed. It seems that someone had gotten between the 2 quilts on the bed and was hunkered down.

I think this is where she spent most of her day!! I haven't seen her do this before and she has not done it since. Cats are so funny!!

I finished another ornament form the 2005 issue. It will go in a pile for next years finishing frenzy. I should take out another sampler to work on but I am going to try and get another of my ornament kits finished.

Thanks for all your lovely comments about my tree and my ornaments. I enjoy seeing everyone else's too. You guys are very inspiring!

Happy Saturday!
Chris

Trimming The Tree

Hi everyone!
 I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving.
 Rich and I didn't have to be at my Mom's until 4pm so we spent the day putting up our tree and watching the James Bond marathon on one of the TV stations.
 This is my collection of Mill Hill Santas that I stitched many years ago. I love them and when I take them out of their box I am always amazed at how much detail and color changes are involved in these. I finally put the backing felt on one more that was stitched so he will join his brothers on the tree this year.
This next group are ornaments that have been gifts or exchanges that I have received over the years. They are pretty fabulous. Every year at my EGA guild's exchange you hope to get ones made by certain people and I have been fortunate to receive a beautiful ornament every year.

This next group I stitched. Can you tell that I like snowmen? I have stitched some of these twice because I gave them away in an exchange and then had separation anxiety! Do any of you feel that way too?

These are some more that I stitched. For about 5 years I was involved in an ornament kit exchange based on the JCS ornament issue. You picked one or 2 ornaments and stitched them and kitted up enough of that same ornament to send to your exchange partner. Well, needless to say I have a lot of kits still to finish. I finished all of them from 2004. I have 5 left from the 2005 issue and then I will start on 2006.
When I think about my stitching goals for the upcoming year I think that it still will have to be to work on finishing those kits rather than I different assortment of smalls. I am so inspired by what I see on the blogs...all red ornaments, 4th of July trees, Halloween trees. I would like to focus on one of these but I really need to finish the ornament kits :)
Well, I think the tree looks pretty fabulous. Every ornament is a memory. For many years I didn't put up a tree because I worked retail and really didn't have time. Rich and I don't have children so there really wasn't any pressure to do so. About 6 years ago, I quit retail management and I have had time to do more during the holidays. Rich and I got a great deal on this prelit tree about that time. 
I hope that you all have time to enjoy the holidays.
                                                        Chris

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope that everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving with family, friends & great food!

         Chris

Recharging

 I had a tough week at work this past week. I am doing a different job in my department. It is heavy computer & paperwork. There is so much to do. I could work extra hours to get caught up if they allowed that but they don't so I am just going to have to put my nose to the grindstone and get things where they need to be.
I also went to dinner with 2 GFs on Monday, Rich and I went to see Morning Glory Tuesday night, I worked 6 to 10 at CVS on Wednesday night. I picked up a girl who works in another dept. and drove her to work and took her home for 3 days since she had had some surgery. I worked 38 hours in 4 days so that I could be off on Friday for some Dr. appointments. Rich went for a consultation on his back.

 So  today, I just kind of powered down. I have been trying to go through some of my magazines, after I look at them they go to my Mom or a friend at the library. I got my new issue of Samplings form the Finkels. It is a wonderful addition to your sampler library, there are 2 issues every year for $40. You can also go to the web site to look at their current selection. I am always happy to get my copy or the email saying that the web site has been updated.

I finally got to stitch a little last night. I am going to finish this Angel Stitchin' ornament from the 2005 ornament issue. I have about 5 kits from this issue left to stitch. I have put away my finishing kit for now :)

 I made one of Rich's favorite dinners tonight. This is Rachel Ray's Cheddar, Beef and Potato Pie. Very easy but a little time consuming but it is worth it. I am sure that if you go to her web site you will be able to find this recipe. It is one of her best from the past 10 years.

  I also took a nap. I was just really over tired. Tomorrow, I am working at CVS and then 3 8 hour work days until the holiday weekend. I was hoping that I could work extra since it could be straight time to get some catch up done at the county but they won't do that.

I am looking forward to seeing some movies, stitching and hiking over the holidays. I used to work in retail so I love having the 4 day weekend off. There is no way that I will go anywhere near a shopping center. I may do a little Internet shopping :)  

I hope that the rest of every one's weekend is great. I will see you guys soon.

Chris

Connecticut Needlework

I got my copy of this book this week. I am disappointed that it was printed in China. My husband runs a press so of course I feel strongly about things being printed here.
I was hoping to go up to see the exhibits in CT the first weekend in December, but I just had a big car repair bill and my friend can not go. So I had to get the book!
The book come in softcover and hardcover. It has lots of pictures and many times shows the back of the needlework too! I think I expected to see more Norwich and Middletown pieces. Anyway, it is a beautiful book.
Also, this quarters issue of Antiques & Fine Arts has an article about Boston samplers and also an article by the Hubers about the exhibit at the Griswold Museum. I love looking at this magazine.

That's my sampler update for now. Going to go for a walk.
Have a peaceful Sunday.

#11, # 12 & completely over it!!!

Ok, I stitched this maybe 10 years ago. I have a whole bunch of these 10 to 13 years ago. I love them and enjoy putting them on the tree. I have a bunch more kits and  I lust after the new ones even though I haven't stitched one in years. All I had to do was glue on his beard and put some felt backing on this one.

This is Plum Pudding Needlearts freebie from a few years ago. I am very partial to snowmen and I have quite a few stitched for my tree. So this one I am keeping.

The backing fabric looks like peppermint sticks to me and matches the border on the ornament. I think it is really fun!

I spent the afternoon watching movies and working on finishing and playing Plants Vs. Zombies. I have to have a game break every now and then. I am getting ready to pack up my finishing kit for awhile. I think I accomplished a lot.

This is Angel Stitchings ornament from the 2006 JCS ornament issue.

I love the funky fabric that I used to back this.
So what will be next? I think that I will be going back to stitching some more of the ornament kits from my years of exchanging kits based on the JCS ornament issues. I am trying to finish the kits from the 2005 issue now.
  I also am ready to pull out one of the WIPs I have and get back to work on a sampler. MA Tipper from the Scarlet Letter is the one that I am thinking of.

Yesterday at work we celebrated 4 birthdays that took place over the last 10 days. There was no consensus on type of cake, so they got 4 small cakes! Carrot, Chocolate Raspberry, Strawberry and Raspberry Lady Cake. So today I got up with a sugar hangover. I really need to detox from all that. It is so hard this time of year with the holidays coming.  Rich and I didn't go for a hike this morning. We both felt we needed to sleep in some. I am working tomorrow so today has just been hanging out.
Last night we went to see Unstoppable. I really liked it. I also think we are going to go see Morning Glory on Tuesday night after work.

I hope that everyone is having a peaceful Saturday.
Thanks for all your kind words and inspiration.

Chris

#10...the pile is dwindling...

Well here is number 10. This is the 2005 JCS ornament issue design from Blackbird Designs. I love it. I put rich and my initials down at the bottom. I think the colors are very strong compared to the normal designs. I did stitch this one over the summer. I am trying to finish all the 2005 kits that I have. I probably still have about 6 to stitch.

I have been attaching the cording to the ornament during my lunch breaks at work. I try and get the cording part started the night before so that I can just work on stitching it all the way around during my break.

I have gotten quite a few done this way.

I love this backing fabric. I know that I have told you that I don't sew, but I have a stash of backing fabric that I have accumulated over the years. I have been feeling that I need some more fabric and choices in my stash but I have not found anything at our local Hobby Lobby. Wal Mart no longer has fabric( I got this green and red stripe there a few years ago), so what to do???   Road trip!!!

I got my Mom to ride a long to Mary Jo's fabrics in Gastonia, NC. This place is massive. There is so much to look at. I got some needles, some felt  and some buttons and a few more small pieces for my finishing stash. If you are ever near Charlotte, NC it is worth the stop.

Mom and I also made a Trader Joe's stop in Charlotte. My cooler fits in the back of the car.

These are the fabrics that I picked up. The red and white one looks like peppermint sticks to me. The top one has pears. I hope that I can stitch some of those pear ornaments that it seems there are so many of.
I hope that everyone took time today to remember our service men and women and to give thanks for their sacrifices so that we can enjoy the freedoms that we have.

Happy Veteran's Day!

Chris

#9

Here is the back of #9. I am not going to show the front. I am going to mail this one off for an exchange I am participating in so once it is rec'd I will post a picture of it. The finishing continues and my stack is dwindling down some. I think I need some fabric. I am off on Thursday and I am considering a road trip to Mary Jo's and Ikea and Trader Joe's. Sounds like a plan.

#10 is well on it's way to being done.

I am reading the latest in a series of books by John Connolly. This is my absolute favorite mystery series. I started reading them last year when I was in California and Hawaii for those 2 months. I would be reading them late at night in my hotel room and I would get totally creeped out!  They are not your 300 page formula mysteries, these have a lot going on and run up to 600 pages.  One of my friends who read the first one thought it was too much "work." I think the work is worth it. I am headed upstairs to read some more!

Good Night.


Chris

#8

 

This is the Workbasket ornament from the 2004 JCS ornament issue. I started stitching this in 2009 but actually finished stitching it in 2010.




I put an extra long cord on it in case I want to hang this over a door knob.

I hope that everyone had an easy Monday!

Chris
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#7 the back .....

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#7

Here is the 2005 Brittercup Designs ornament from the 2005 JCS ornament issue.



I decided to whip stitch this one together and stuff it.


 
It turned out very cute. I am working on some others too. My schedule this week is not as full. I am working 6-10 at my second job Tuesday night. I am off on Thursday so I may do a Trader Joe's run with my Mom.





This is the fabulous pair of scissors that my friend gave me for my birthday.
This is the 17th century band sampler that my EGA chapter is working on.




I am just collecting the chart.
Rich and I went for a hike this morning. We had our first hard frost last night. It is supposed to be 70 Monday and Tuesday.

That's it from here. I hope that everyone had a great weekend!

Chris
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Birthday part 2

I had asked my Mom to make be a couple of travel bags for my shoes, instead of the plastic bags that I usually use. This is one of the ones she made. I love the fabric! She quilted it and everything. I can't wait to use it....Hmmmm maybe I need a road trip! Soon! The colors of the fabric are much brighter than this picture.



I am going to try and get Rich up so that we can hike :)
Chris

Birthday Fun....

I was lucky this year that my birthday fell on a weekend. I started my day at the diner in town to have breakfast with 2 dear friends.
After that Rich and I ran a couple of errands and then headed up to Winston Salem to the Wake Forest vs. Boston College football game.

It was kind of chilly here. Wake Forest lost to BC. There were lots of interceptions. By the time the game was over it was getting windier and colder.
Rich and I then went to downtown Winston Salem in search of some dinner. We ended up at the Mellow Mushroom and then swung by Krispee Kreme for a couple of donuts since the hot light was on. All in all an excellent day.

My week was pretty busy. I went out Wednesday night with friends from work for dinner. Then Thursday was EGA, so dinner before hand with my friend Louise (no blog). She gave me a lovely pair of gingher scissors for my birthday. The guild working away at the 17th century band sampler. Blogger is not letting me post a picture :(
I have to get back to work on my finishing. I haven't done anything the last 4 or 5 days. I am off tomorrow. I would like to go for a hike in the morning then maybe some stitching.

Have a good evening. Enjoy the extra hour of sleep!

Chris

#6

This is the Heart In Hand ornament from the 2004 JCS ornament issue. The backing fabric is the same as on finish #4.



I think I am a little crooked.

I hope that everyone is having a great week. Tomorrow I am having dinner with some of the girls at work and Thursday is EGA. So not much more will happen on the finishing front over the next couple of days. Rich and I are going to the Wake Forest vs. Boston College game on Saturday. Busy! Busy!

Thanks for all you kind comments. I hope everyone shaving a great fall!

TTYS

Chris

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The back of #5

Cute!!!!!