Weekend update

It was a pretty mild weekend, except for the weather! We had threats of massive storms, widespread power outages, etc. So of course we hunkered down, and it wasn't as bad as they said. We did get huge amounts of rain, which cancelled the kid's soccer games. It gave me time to catch up on my laundry, and housework, and plenty of time to sitch!

I managed to finish up the stitching on two ornies this weekend, and make progress on both of my shop models. Here's the ornies!
This first one is from The Cat's Whiskers. It's a freebie I found on their website.

This second free design I did in red, for Christmas obviously. I really liked how fast it stitched up! It's a free design from The Monkey Works

I'm really pleased with how they both came out. I have the perfect fabric to finish the redwork one, but I'll need to find something for the other!

in other stitching news, I almost completed ALL my goals for October! I was pretty pumped!
Stitch JN RR as soon as it arrives--YES!
Finish 1 model for shop, start on second--both started
Stitch 10 hours on Stargazer --YES!
Restart MIL's gift--Stitch at least 5 hours on it--YES!
Stitch 2 Christmas Ornaments--YES!
Stitch 5 hours each on 2 other WIPS--Indigo Rose Bead Blanket & The Birth Band--YES!
Finish Crys' RR--Mail HOME--YES!!

Here's November's Goals:
Finish both LNS models!
Finish MIL's gift!
Stitch JN RR as soon as it arrives
Stitch 5 hours on 2 WIPS
Stitch 10 hours on Stargazer
Stitch 2 ornaments

SBQ, a finish, and relief!

Okay so it's been a stress filled few days... but first! The Stitching Blogger's Question (times two!):

Today's SBQ was suggested by Carol and is:

If you were to come across a sampler chart that caught your eye and
appealed to you, would you or would you not stitch it if it had a
morbid or "creepy" saying on it? If not, why?

I think I would definately still stitch it and if I were creeped out significantly I would either change it, or leave it out. Creativity!

And Last week's question! I missed it!
Last Week's SBQ was suggested by Vash and is:

Which way do you stitch, i.e. do you stitch /// followed by \\\ on
top, or the other way around \\\ followed by ///? Are you left- or
right-handed and do you think that this affects the way that you stitch?

I stitch / followed by \ and I stitch from top to bottom, not bottom to top like the books tell me to! I'm right handed, but I stitch two-handed most of the time, so I don't think it affects how I stitch. I'm self taught, so I have no idea what influenced it!

I had a small finish last night stitching... one of two planned Christmas Ornaments this month. I'll post a picture later today!

All of my worry for the last few days is over, apparently. I still have to wait for official test results, but after having a mammogram and ultrasound yesterday, it seems there's nothing to 'worry' about at the time. Changes can still occur rapidly, so I have to be careful for a bit!

Happy Stitching!

Well apparently it worked!

I got a call this morning that the imaging center has an 8:20 cancellation tomorrow, so I got rescheduled! On one hand I'm happy to be getting these over with, on the other, I'm extraordinarily nervous. No *idea* how long these results will take either! But, at least I don't have to wait 2 weeks.

I hate waiting..

I'm not a patient person as a general thing. I tend to want things to be instant gratification, which isn't typically possible. When it comes to medical stuff, I'm even less patient. I have tests scheduled for Nov 7, and I'm not at all doing well with that wait! LOL I feel a bit better after a doctor's appointment today, but I'm still worried. There's still reason to be somewhat worried. I did however get good news today! I've lost 11.5 pounds since the second week of September. I'm pretty pumped about that... means my walking is doing *something* I haven't done it regularly lately--too much on my mind. But I'm definately getting back to it!!

In stitching news, I did a stitchathon this weekend and put a LOT of time into Mirabilia's Stargazer. I love this piece so much. I definately believe I can finish her this year now! Here's an updated picture... as you can see, I had help with taking the picture! That's Smudgers, my problem child, but my cute baby!

Stitching Update..

Well I've been fighting a serious case of start-itis these days.. so I figured I'd do some updates of some WIPs, and maybe that would help. There is *one* new start here, it's a gift for a friend.

This is my part of Kari's Just Nan RR. I really love JN band samplers!

Indigo Rose's Bead Blanket Sampler. Surprisingly I'm getting addicted to these small toys/tools--and most especially to Indigo Rose!

My meager progress of Patricia Ann Designs Moonlight Orchid. I subbed all the floss for NPI silks, keeping the Iced Lavendar Waterlilies. I didn't like the purples I chose so I started again!

The restart of my MIL's gift.. 4MyBoys Fear Not Tomorrow. I'm actually restructuring this to be more square instead of really long and thin. I think it'll be great!

Drawn Thread's Birth Band. I've done this one before, for my godson. I love this birth sampler, and this is my new start as of last night. It is for a friend's new baby:)
This weekend is the Passione Ricamo stitchathon--I'm going to make as much progress on these and Mirabilia's Stargazer as I possibly can!

So.. laundry..

Yes, that odd thing that happens when you aren't looking. No seriously, I swear the laundry breeds. All by itself. It is NOT possible I have this much laundry after being caught UP on Sunday. SUNDAY. Totally caught up. I mean I do have a 9 year old who changes clothes with the wind, and a husband who has home clothes and work clothes. But SERIOUSLY. How can every towel we own be dirty????? We all do shower daily at least, but.. there's just the *three* of us. I think the towels and sheets have some questions to answer.

No stitching barely yesterday--just half a band on the new Just Nan RR I received. Hopefully I'll settle down here in a bit and stitch!

Peace to you..

Stitching Tricky!

Back in June I posted my WIPs, kits and my list of goals on the Rotation BB's StRIP forum. Now mind you, because I've started setting goals and tracking things, I've had more finishes this year than I have in the last *two* years! However, I can't seem to keep reducing WIPs. I even made a deal with myself *and DH* that I wouldn't start something new unless I'd finished 2 things. Now I didn't count exchange pieces ( I did 3 this year, I'm so tickled!)or RR's or shop models in my new start restriction. So while I've had 16 finishes this year, I've only reduced my WIPs by a net 7!! Huh.. I'd have figured it was so many more! Ahhh well, with two and a half months left in this stitching calendar year, I'm hoping for the first time ever to finish 20 or more projects--perhaps even a big one. We'll see how I do!

A Book Meme

I've never been much into the 'memes', but this one that I spied on Another WIP. I think it's pretty interesting.
1: One book that changed your life
I haven't as yet read much in non-fiction, and that's been that way most of my life. I began reading at a very young age, and around age 11 or 12 I read The Mists of Avalon. It solidified my love for all things Arthurian, and being told from a female point of view helped me reinforce my belief in female strength, and power. My family was also going through a crisis of faith, and this book opened a new spiritual path for me, one I traveled for over 15 years. I don't regret that time, because I believe strongly in the ideal that God is both feminine and masculine. Without traveling the spiritual path I did, I would not have felt so strongly about the role of women in Christianity, and would not have been drawn to the Episcopal Church we now attend.
2: One book you've read more than once
Wow, that's just about every book I own, I think. I don't like going to a library because then I can't read and reread the book over and over again. Some recent books I've reread was The Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop and the Key Trilogy by Nora Roberts.
3: One book you'd want on a desert island
Wow, is this one hard. Half of me immediately says The Bible, the other half says The DragonRiders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey. Tomorrow that answer would change!
4: One book that made you laugh
Most books I read have some element of humor in them--I've laughed out loud to some of the Johanna Lindsey books I have, or the aforemention authors. But what sprang to mind was the Anita Blake:Vampire Hunter books by Laurell K Hamilton. Not sure if humor is her first thrust, but parts of these stories stick with you!
5: One book that made you cry
It did the first time I read it, and it never fails to do so each time I read it even though I know what's coming. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
6: One book you wish had been written
Honestly I am sure whatever topic I wish had been covered has been, I just haven't found the book yet.
7: One book you wish had never been written.
I believe all books have value, and should be respected. There are many books out there I do not agree with, and would choose to *never* read or touch. However, I believe in the right for them to be written.
8: One book you're currently reading
I just started a reread of Anne Bishop's Sebastian. I also will probably start Queen Isabella soon, and I'm itching for a reread of The Other Boleyn Girl. There are huge numbers of books I desire, but don't have yet.
9: One book you've been meaning to read
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
10: Some Favorite books not already on this list
The Firebrand--Marion Zimmer Bradley
The Ruins of Ambrai-Melanie Rawn
Arrows of the Queen-Mercedes Lackey (ALL of the Valdemar books!!)
Sweet Liar-Jude Deveraux
Gone with the Wind-Margaret Mitchel

Stitching Blogger's Question

I've seen this around, so I thought I'd start answering it!

This week's SBQ was suggested by Lee and is:

As we all know, stitching in the winter can really be rough on the
hands. What do you do to treat your hands well in the cold winter
months? Do you have any suggestions for creams or soaps? Or perhaps a
special regimen that you would like to share?
I have always suffered from dry skin, especially in the winter. In New Hampshire it gets cold early, so this is affecting me right now. I actually use a tiny bit of olive oil when I cook with it, rub it all over my hands and then wash it off. Other than that, Curel lotion works and when my fingers crack-I use chapstick. None of this helps when I'm stitching though! I may have to try the Dove hand cream the Blonde Librarian recommends!

Happy October! :)

Yes, there's a trend in my update post titles. I like it!
We've been staying pretty busy here, with soccer, chorus, girl scouts and now clarinet lessons and practice. Between all the church activities and the school activities, I'm not quite sure how I get anything else done! We're also moving in my Dh's really busy time, so for about the next 4 to 5 weeks we won't see much of him either. Which means, I can make chicken corn soup! (He despises it lol).

Other non-stitchy news quick.. We're doing Thanksgiving at my house this year. My MIL from Ohio, SIL and BIL are all coming *here* (squeak). I'm actually very excited and I've started planning my menus already. Hmm...what else.. oh yes--DD's top tooth FINALLY broke through! She only lost this thing before Halloween of LAST YEAR. She's been toothless for so long! But they are finally coming in-thank God.

Stitching news/Goals updates!
Considering I haven't posted goals here before, I'll just post my October goals:)
For October:
Stitch JN RR as soon as it arrives
Finish 1 model for shop, start on second
Stitch 10 hours on Stargazer
Restart MIL's gift
Stitch 2 Christmas Ornaments
Stitch 5 hours each on 2 other WIPS
Finish Crys' RR--Mail HOME
In recent finishes I have had several!

This was the ornament I stitched and finished for my first ever exchange on the Rotation BB. I'm wikked proud of it!

This is the biscornu I finished to send to nebbus! This was my first one, but I know it won't be my last! I was tickled to find a swarovski button to use too!!

The first part of my Christmas themed Just Nan RR! I'm really pleased with how it turned out, even if I had to rip out the satin stitches twice!

My part (and the final part) on my best friend Crystal's RR from a previous round. I love the spiderweb roses!

Two quick stitches! These are from Britty Kitties 3--gifts for my Gramma and my SIL.

last but not least by any means--this is the house I stitched on Autumn's Stitcher's Lane RR...it made it home quite a while ago!

I think that might be all for today! Y'all take care!

I've been tagged!

I was tagged by a silken thinker!
List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether or not they have words, or even if they're not any good, but they must be songs you're really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they're listening to.

1: Sexy Back by Justin Timberlake
2: SOS by Rhianna
3: How to Save a Life by the Fray
4: Sunday night football theme
5: U of Michigan fight song
6: To God be the Glory, Malcom Archer
7: Holy, Holy, Holy, Malcom Archer

I don't think enough people read this for me to tag! :)

Hugs and happy stitching!