Mermaids Finished, Clean up & Bird Feeders

Well, so much for the mermaids wearing pearl necklaces - I give up!  I tried smaller french knots and then dangling beads, but it just didn't look right.  Even Angie and her Mom thought they looked like big teeth!  I even tried adding a mouth, but it didn't help.  Oh well, maybe I'll try stitching something else or just let them go "naked"!

So as of right now, I'm done with the mermaids.  I'm not sure I like not having them outlined, maybe I'll do it to mine when I make it again.  I still need to frame it, but I haven't decided how I going to do it yet.

Now I need to decide what I'm going to work on next.  Christmas is coming - do I work on ornaments, start my TOS (tree of stitches), stitch my witches, or start making Christmas cards.  I know what Angie would say! 

 

Earlier this week, my bff, Tara (way back from elementary school) came over to help me organize my house.  I wasn't sure what we were going to work on first since my whole house is a mess!  We ended up in the cedar closet and went through my clothes that have been down there for almost 13 years and before that, moved from place to place.  We got four bags worth - I had things down there from high school, you know, over 25 years ago!   She said she has a bag that she keeps out all of the time for her family to add clothes to.  I don't know if I'll do that, but this was a great donation.  Now if only I can get my husband to do the same - he has more clothes than me, even before I got rid of this!  Next clean up - toys.

 

I received two "squirrel proof" bird feeders for my birthday, and so far one is working!  Mary Kay gave me this one, I had picked it out and thought it would work.  As you can see, this little guy is having no trouble getting the goodies, he's just hanging out.  At least he can't get too much at once.

This is the one Angie gave me.  She has one and said it works great.  Well, I haven't even seen a squirrel attempt to get any of goodies from this one!  The birds love it, so I'm filling it every 3 days or so.  It even spins around sometimes when they get on it, so they're getting a ride to boot!

Mermaids Mishap

Meeting with DJ today was great, we actually found time to stitch while talking!  

All I have to do is add the bubbles and I think I'm done.  There is an upper and lower border, but I decided I'm not going to include it.  I also added yellow beads to the flowers and changed the "Mermaids" to glittery purple.  The problem I'm having is....

the pearl necklaces.  I don't like the way they look on the girls - it looks like they have white beards or a huge toothy smile!  
I'm thinking of taking them out and either making more, smaller french knots or maybe adding white beads instead.  Thoughts?  Suggestions? 

Pre-K and Belated Goodies

Here's Nathan, on his first day of Pre-K.  He was so excited to be going to school with his big brothers!  He's not old enough to ride the bus, he has to wait until kindergarten for that.  Luckily, it isn't that far to drive him there.  

Here he is with Garrett... 

 and Griffin

This is his "desk" area and he still had a big smile on his face when I picked him up that afternoon.  He scared me when he said he had a couple of accidents - he meant he spilled yogurt and chocolate milk on his shirt!  Although nothing would surprise me with this kid.

Friday morning after I dropped Nathan off at school, I stopped by Angie's house to say hello and get some yummy pumpkin coffee.  I also got my belated birthday pressies from June, she/we kept on forgetting - what a treat!  She gave me a squirrel proof bird feeder, which she says works for her so I'm crossing my fingers, and this cute cat kit!  As you can see, it quite suits our house and I'm looking forward to making this one.

As an added bonus, she also gave me some of her duplicate magazines for making cards and a scor-pal for folding cards, yeah!  You can see her blog here - Angie's Creative Inkspirations  for ideas and "inkspirations"!  We have a date next week to make Christmas cards, hopefully her Mom will join us so we can also have a nice chit chat session!

Picture "Published"! Mermaids

How cool is this... way back in March, I posted about some quilts made by my friend in PA - Amish and More Quilts.  She is totally amazing and has made some beautiful quilts.  Well, I received an email about it - 

Dear Astrid,
I write to you on behalf of the International Menno Simons Center Foundation at Witmarsum, Frysl n, The Netherlands.
We have seen this picture in your blog and would like to use it on the front cover of a little recipe book on Mennonite historical traditional food. The year 2011 is a special year for the Mennonites, because Menno Simons died 450 years ago and more commemorations in the Dutch Mennonite Conference take place. The International Menno Simons Center is organizing the reflection Path from Pingjum to Witmarsum, where Menno Simons was born and left the Roman Catholic Church in 1534.
One of the projects is 'Doperse diaspora', (Mennonite diaspora) for what we would like to publish this small recipe booklet. My question for you is: would you permit us to use the picture for the recipe booklet?

Of course I had to check with HJ, and she said no problem - but wanted them to know she didn't design it, she used a pattern.  She did ask for a copy if they used it and so they sent us BOTH one!

So even though I don't know any Dutch, some of these recipes might be worth translating! 

On another note, the mermaids are pretty much done, I just have to accessorize them and then finish the borders and "fluff".

We were at the lake this weekend so I also took some time out to read.   Oh well, back to the real world.

Some of the tree have already started to change colour, can't wait to go back!

New Moon TUSAL for August! School started!

 

 
This doesn't look like much, but considering I just got my mojo back, it will have to do!  I missed last month, we were at the beach and I wasn't stitching.


These are only SOME of the acorns that we got from our front yard after Hurricane Irene.  Nathan was my big helper picking them up, he didn't complain TOO much.  I'm hoping these will keep the squirrels happy and away from the bird feeders this winter.  Wishful thinking, I know.

The gmen started 8th grade this week, I can't even believe it!  They weren't very happy when I told them I was coming to school to take their picture in the classroom too.  I told them I'd try and restrain myself when they head to high school next year!


 Garrett / Griffin

 Gotta love the uniforms, no worry of what they are going to wear - kind of dreading HS.  Nathan starts pre-k next week and he gets to wear the gym uniform, easy peasy!

 2011 New Moon Dates: January 4th, February 3rd, March 4th, April 3rd, May 3rd, June 1st, July 1st, July 30th, August 29th, September 27th, October 26, November 25th, December 24th

Hurricane Irene & a Wedding

 
Our friends got married in the midst of Hurricane Irene and survived!  
They were married at Sequoia, located at the Georgetown Waterfront.  This is the view from the restaurant, looking at the Kennedy Center.

 

 You can see the rain in the background and thankfully it didn't flood there like it did in April!

Here they are with just to show Irene that she didn't spoil their wonderful evening!

So I had to drive home from Georgetown at midnight, fun, fun!  It was raining and very windy with some tree limbs down along the way, but overall it was fine.  It took a little longer, only because I was driving slow to avoid hitting anything in the road.

At 2am, I was jolted out of bed by having this tree limb fall right over our bedroom.  Luckily it wasn't as bad as I thought and there doesn't seem to be any damage.  Paul had celebrated during the reception, so he slept right through it!

And here we have a huge tree limb that fell just down the road from us.  This side of the road still has power, but I don't think the other side does!  This was taken in the  morning and we just walked down this evening and it's still the same.

The gmen were supposed to start school tomorrow, but we found out that schools are closed.  Oh well, it was only 1/2 day anyway!  

We are very thankful that we didn't lose power and that the storm wasn't as bad as it could have been.

Pen Pal Fun & Mermaids

Leave it to Parsley to find more fun stuff to participate in!  I received a beautiful card from my pen-pal and also a nice postcard from Parsley herself.  It is nice to find something in the post other than bills and recycle material!














So I finally started stitching again after a long stretch of losing my mojo.  Remember...
 Where is it?

I've changed the mermaids to match my sister-in-law and nieces, who are all beautiful blondes.  Then I'm making one for me as is!  Starting back simple before I do something bigger and more time consuming.

Stylish Blogger Award Info & My Picks...

 Thanks again, Jo @ Serendipitous Stitching
for my Stylish Blogger Award!  Here's my seven boring juicy tidbits about myself...







1.  I have always wanted twins, but they don't run in the family.  I was kidding with the doctor when I asked if there were two of them in there and was shocked when he said yes!  And to think Paul only wanted one child - we've now got three boys.
2.  I love baking, especially cheesecakes - pumpkin is my favorite.
3.  I never really cared for the beach until I went as a sitter for a family I used to babysit for growing up.  Those boys really got me to enjoy the water & sand and I love going now with my family every year.
4.  I love dragons (that's the Welsh in me) and I also love mermaids, especially the project I'm working on now for my sister-in-law & nieces.
5.  I'm afraid of heights.  But I did a zip line in Hawaii and loved it even though I was a total "tree hugger" that day!  I'm also supposed to go on a hot air balloon ride soon, yikes!
6.  I'm thinking of starting a new collection with thimbles - but only from places I've actually been to.  Wish I had thought of this years ago, I'd have plenty by now.
7.  I would love to take Paul & the boys back to all the places in Britain that I've been to when I was growing up.  Especially Devon, Cornwall & Wales!

So now it's time to pass the award to 15 other stylish bloggers, but I'm not sure if I can get that many!  I follow a lot of blogs and most have them have quite a few followers already, but there are some who don't have as many as the others and should!  In no particular order, here they are...
 
Kay's Random World   
A Joyus Place 
Patchwork Stitches   
My New Perspective 
My Musings  
Fireflies & Cats in the garden 
All I want..... is everything   
.............................. Fly on the Wall  - This is a special one written by my old youth pastor and his wife who are now in Penang - "So we tell others about Jesus, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Jesus’ mighty power that works within me. (Colossians 1:28-29)" 
I do not expect them to pass on this award since they are so busy, but please pray for them - they even make it easy by having a prayer list!

Of course you can take a look at ALL the blogs I follow, there may be some there you haven't seen yet.

An Award and A Welcome!

 Wow, what a wonderful surprise to find out I was including in winning the "Stylish Blogger Award" from Jo @ Serendipitous Stitching

.

Thanks to her blog, I have many new followers looking to roast marshmallows!  A warm welcome to you all and I'll try to keep you awake entertained somewhat!  I'm hoping this is what I needed to get my stitching mojo back, I've lost it somewhere and would really like it back.

So now it's my turn and I'm sorry to say - I'm not quite ready yet.  I did thank Jo, but still have to write seven things about myself (could take a while) and then pass the award to 15 other stylish bloggers (could take even longer!).  Please be patient and I'll do my best to finish this week.

New Moon TUSAL for July!

Wow, I didn't realize I was so late in posting this.  Anyway, I found enough stitching mojo to finish Nathan's sampler, (I only had to add his weight and some outlining) but hardly enough to make a different in my TUSAL glass!

I started working on this before I found out I like linen so much better... darn it!  Oh well, at least it's finished and now all I have to do is frame it.  I'm not sure how I want it done yet, a real frame or quilt framed with dragon material.  I guess I need to do some shopping - as long as I get it done before his FIFTH birthday!


 






     


2011 New Moon Dates: January 4th, February 3rd, March 4th, April 3rd, May 3rd, June 1st, July 1st, July 30th, August 29th, September 27th, October 26, November 25th, December 24th

WHERE IS IT?!

So I've had a lot of help searching, searching... 

         

 On the 7th grade field trip...

             

While tubing and boating at Deep Creek Lake...

While spending the day at Hershey Park...

From the top of the Kissing Tower...

While strawberry picking on my birthday with the boys...

While Nathan was going through the tunnel in gymnastics...

 
Even the cats were searching, but it would help if Ming would open her eyes!

Darn squirrel even looked in the "squirrel proof" bird feeder for me!

But alas, I haven't been able to find it... I've lost my stitching mojo.  

I just don't know where it is.  I have plenty of things I could/should be working on, I see how well everyone else is doing, I even have new books and patterns.  

So what have I been doing?  Planning the 8th grade graduation lunch & reception, reading, trying to straighten up the house, going to the lake, chores, visiting PA, reading blogs/fb end of school activities, and now camps!  Oh, and I just had my friend that I grew up with come over to give me a exercise training session - which means I'm exercising too.  
What's missing?  Oh yeah, THE STITCHING!!!  I bring it all with me whenever I go to the lake or to my parents, but it ends up staying in the bag.
So, if anyone finds it or would like to loan me some, I'd appreciate it!

New Moon TUSAL for June!

Sorry this is late, way too much on my plate this past week.  As a 7th grade room mom, we are responsible for hosting the 8th grade luncheon and after graduation reception.  Also need to get back to stitching, very behind on that too!




 







 2011 New Moon Dates: January 4th, February 3rd, March 4th, April 3rd, May 3rd, June 1st, July 1st, July 30th, August 29th, September 27th, October 26, November 25th, December 24th