My First SAL... not quite done!

 

So I’m not as far along as I wanted to be on my SAL considering it should have been finished today!  I normally don’t start outlining until I’m all done, but thought I should do the cake so it could be seen better.  Still unsure about the colours of the cat, I think keeping the suggested colours is easier than trying to change it to one of our kitties!

It seems that every time I read someone’s wonderful blog, I find more projects I want to stitch!  I just don’t know how you keep up – those of you who have multiple SALs!  I still have to put my finishing touches on Nathan’s sampler and have it framed.  I also have one I finished for my bff, but just have to figure out how I want to finish or frame it.

 And this is what I get for trying to read blogs instead of stitching and snuggling!

Small World

So I got together with DJ today at the The Stitching Post, and it turned out be another great day.  We got there when it first opened and people started trickling in.  One woman came in and I thought she looked familiar, but I thought couldn’t be – except for the fact that she lives in Maryland too.  While checking out, it turns out I was right, it was Danielle @ Peace, Love and Stitching!  And she’s friends with Jill, who gave me my goodies for the Valentine’s Swap.  How cool was that, small world indeed!

After that, DJ & I headed over to Peace of Pizza for lunch before I had to pick up Nathan.  I’d go back again, but forgot to ask her what she thought…?!  Our next meeting might be actually stitching together while at the bookstore or library – can’t wait!

I was thrilled to find the pattern I had seen someone else do, but I can’t remember who it was!  I’m planning on making this for my sister-in-law and my nieces, but they will all have to have blond hair if I want them to look like they do.  Each girl has a favorite colour and luckily they are all different!

Snowed In?

Looks like we might be snowed or sleeted in at the lake! I've read anywhere from 6-10", we'll see. So, I'm trying to work on my SAL with the cats "helping me".

There has been no internet since we got here on Friday and I feel so lost, my phone only does so much and even this is a chore! Haven't been able to read any blogs, I'm going to be so far behind! Just thankful to be in a warm house with family and our friend, John, who may not be making it home tomorrow to Texas. Happy stitching to everyone, off to bed.

Sometimers Disease, I've got it!

How sad is this, I totally forgot I had made this for my nephew.  That is, until my sister-in-law sent me a picture of it along with the wedding sampler I made them.  I think she wants to reframe it and I hope she does, I didn’t do a very good job on that one!  Hard to believe Pierce is now 14, when did that happen?!

And how could I forget that I went to a friend's wedding 25 years ago.  She swears I was there but I just can't remember!  She has the card I gave her and a picture of my boyfriend at the time - he was in the background but you can't see me... if I was actually there!  I still have my doubts, but she's probably right.  At least I remember my own wedding, so far! ;)

I took the boys to the library this evening and I ended up getting a book and some magazines to read.  I’m not sure why because I never seem to have the time to read anything!  I’m still working on my MS culinary cat SAL and it’s coming along very slowly for me.  I took it to Nathan’s gymnastics & karate class, but they aren’t very long.  I’m hoping to spend the long weekend stitching away, just have to move some furniture around at the lake house and then relax!  At least that’s my plan, we’ll see what actually happens.

Valentine’s Swap Goodies!

OMGoodness!  I love all my goodies that Jill @ A Stitch in Time gave me! 

She made me the most beautiful and delicate heart, just precious.  I don't want to use it as a scissor fob because I don't want it to get dirty!  So it's in my dining room, hanging on my cabinet.  See my cute pins/needles book, wonderful since I’m forever misplacing my needles!  The colour theme of the Crescent colours are perfect for Valentine’s Day – they are “Love'”, “Sweetest Heart”, and “Cupid”.  Now I just need to find something fun to make with them.  I have notepads to write my notes on, especially for stitching shopping and those honey-do lists!  I’m looking forward to wearing my slipper socks today, they are so soft and comfy looking.  The unfortunate part about the Reese’s chocolate is that 2 out of 3 of the boys want some too!  So I say thanks again to Jill, this is my first swap and I’m just thrilled!

Here is a close-up of her handiwork, isn’t it precious?
 

If you’d like to see what I gave Parsley, check it out at Seasons Of My Mind.  I totally forgot to photograph the things I had given her until the package was already in the mail!  Thanks for hosting this Parsley, it was so much fun!

Crazy Sock Blog Party!

 Here she goes, it’s Parsley's Sock Blog Party!  I couldn’t decide which ones I wanted to wear, so I picked two!  Nathan wanted to show off his Power Rangers, so he joined in. 

Now if my girlfriend, Cori, knew that I was posting this, she would not be a happy camper.  Actually, she’d probably just laugh!  These are her favorite Cowboys socks, can you tell?  I’m not sure if she got new ones for Christmas, but if not, I know what to get for her birthday!

Goodies, Welsh Cakes & Stitching Cakes

Oooh, I got my Valentine Swap goodies from Jill, but I'm going to try and wait until Monday to open everything.  I did have a peek at what was in the box when I opened it, but a couple things are still wrapped.  I don't know if I can make it until Monday, we’ll see!  Thanks so much, Jill!

On Monday, Griffin and I made the Welsh cakes for his school project and they turned out FANTASTIC!  We made little ones instead of the proper big ones, enough for the class without having to make extra batches.  I can’t believe it’s been so long since I’ve made them, I had forgotten how good they are!  I think I need to make more this weekend, they might be my replacement for chocolate chip cookies. I'm sure they're much healthier! 

Here I am, a little Welsh girl, when we were still living in Wales.  Five months later, we moved to the States.  For some reason, Griffin was too embarrassed to take this picture to school… not sure why?!

So I finally started my Margaret Sherry SAL, I’ve gotten as far as the cake plate and a bit of the cake – but not enough to take a picture of.  Still can’t decide if I’m going to keep the same colours for the cat, or make it look more like mine.  Guess it depends on how much thinking I want to do when the time comes.

Cabin Camping & Cross Stitch

     We had a great time “camping” with our camping buddies this weekend.

  We had two cabins for our families and they consisted of a kitchen with sink, 2 burners and a fridge, a bathroom, and a bedroom that had bunk beds and a double bed.  The only sitting area was the kitchen table with four chairs, but we also brought some.  The cabins were actually warmer than our own home, we weren’t used to it!  The 2nd night we ended up turning off the heat in the bedroom and cracking the window, much better. 

It drizzled on Saturday, but we went out on a pizza run for lunch and then back to the cabins for evening fun.  Sunday was beautiful and sunny, so the kids were able to hit the playground before we left.  Nathan wanted Paul to go on the see-saw with him so he could catch some air! 

I think it was a hit and we’ll be back again when it’s cold – otherwise, we’ll wait for the warmer weather and our tent. 

  

I was able to stitch in the cabin, even brought a little lamp for extra light.  I can’t really show it since I’m trying to finish it for the Valentine’s swap, it needs to be posted by tomorrow - yikes!  Then I still need to start my cat… among other things.  Garrett is still asking me about his Harry Potter bookmark, I'm starting to feel bad about not doing it yet!

New Moon TUSAL for February!

I couldn’t resist this one for February!

Not as much as I would like in there, so until next time…

Although I did finally finish a gift for my BFF, but can’t post it until it’s framed and given to her.

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



No Time to Stitch... : (

Today was another crazy, busy day, and it was too late to stitch!  The day started off by taking Nathan to preschool and then heading over to Angie’s house so she could help me be creative for my Valentine’s swap.  Stayed until I had to pick Nathan up at 1pm and then headed back home.  Snuggled with Nathan (dozed just a little bit) and then it was time to pick up Garrett & Griffin for their orthodontist appointments.  Dropped them off there, then took Nathan to his karate class.  Stopped at the local mini market after his class to pick up currants & honey for the boys to use for a project for school.  Picked the boys up at the dentist and finally headed home!  Luckily, leftover night for dinner and Garrett even made Nathan his noodles. 

After dinner, we started making Ukrainian Christmas Honey Cookies for Garrett’s project.  Looked easy, but I tried to let him do most of it so he still needed help.  Didn’t check with him on one part and said it was okay to add the extra egg… wrong!  Ending up having to add more flour than I wanted, and it was still too goopy.  But we rolled, cut, brushed & sprinkled and here’s our end result.  Not too bad, kind of tasted like a gingerbread cookie, but I could taste the honey.  He had plenty for school and even some extra for us.

Next week, I'll be helping Griffin make Welsh Cakes, but that will be a breeze.  Being Welsh and having made them before gives us the advantage!

So after finishing up baking and cleaning up all that mess, I realized it was too late to start my new SAL for Margaret Sherry Lovers.  Tomorrow should be better for stitching, I need to get started!