Gotta Love Veggie Tales!

I hope you can see this... too cute.  And honestly, I didn't know that - or just forgot it, like so many other things!

February TUSAL & Hermitting

It might not look like much, but I'm proud of it!  It's been slow going on the baby piece, I'm sort of stuck on the red long johns!  No new pics since there wasn't much progress.

  

As for my IHSW, we were once again at the lake.  Some of the lake was frozen and most of the snow was gone, but it was still pretty.  

I didn't stitch as much as I could have, but did have a very relaxing time.  

I worked on a belated pressie for someone special, so I can't show it here!  Just a little something, but I should have reversed the pattern and didn't realize it until it was almost done.  Oh well, now I have an extra one and don't have much more to go on the reversed one.

 

 

In other news, we had a King Cake for Mardi Gras yesterday and Nathan thought that because there was a baby in it, that I should have one!   When I told him he'd have to share his room and if it was a girl, it would also have to be a princess room, he was not impressed and quickly changed his mind!

Happy Hearts to You!

I meant to post this yesterday, but just didn't get to it - too much loving going on!  I hope you all had a day filled with love and kindness.

We don't really "do" Valentine's Day per se - cards and a little bit of candy, Paul's favourite dinner (meatloaf!), and some goodies for the boys.

As lovely as roses are, I love carnations - they last such a long time.  I was lucky enough to receive FOUR bunches!

So I joined the bandwagon and bought a Creative Options bobbin box.  I was able to put all three of my DMC boxes into one, yeah!  I'm pretty sure I have all of the DMC colours, but I might be missing one or two along the way.  
The only "problem" I had with the box, is that the cardboard bobbins don't fit the way they should - it's not quite wide enough.  I tried to turn it over, but then they were too tall and the lid wouldn't shut properly.  I also tried to trim the bobbin, but that wasn't right either.  End result - I put them in crooked and still have plenty of room for more!

Saving the best for last... we had another stitching date on Sunday, but only Denise and DJ were able to come.  The time just flew by, as it always does when we get together.  Looking forward to meeting next month, for the weekend this time!

 

Send a Free Valentine...

What do farmers give their wives on Valentine's Day?  Hogs and kisses! What are you going to put on your card?!  It doesn't cost anything but a couple of minutes of your time... just do it!

We have less than a week left to reach our goal of 5,000 valentines by February 14! Choose which valentine you want to send to a child in the hospital: Dear Friend, I just have to share a few of my favorite valentines we've received from people like you who want to wish kids in the hospital a happy Valentine's Day: Tons of Smiles and Hugs coming your way from Arizona!! XOXO Happy Valentine's Day to You! – Kristina B. What do farmers give their wives on Valentine's Day? Hogs and kisses! – Matthew and Laura G. Big Hearts, and Big smiles coming your way!!! Happy Valentine's Day from Aurora & Family ;o) – Aurora D. We've collected 1,400 valentines so far and have less than a week to reach our goal of 5,000 valentines by February 14. We're hoping to shower each of our patients with lots of valentines, so they know how much people care. Please send one of our kids a valentine today. Kids in the hospital this Valentine's Day won't be able to celebrate at school with their friends, but we can still give them a fun day to remember. Your valentine will help us make this Valentine's Day extra special. Send your valentine. Just a few words mean so much. Thank you for reaching out and showing kids in need that you care this Valentine's Day. Sincerely, Pam King Sams Executive Vice President, Development Children's National Medical Center

WIPocalypse for February

What's cooking?  Certainly not the cats and my stitching has been on the slow cooker!  I did have a stitching date with DJ today (yeah!), so I got some done...

Looking forward to another stitching gals date on Sunday, I could really get used to this!

I'm still working on the baby piece, it's slow going.  I'm not sure I'm going to make the same thing for my other grandnephew, once might be enough!






I messed up on One Nation and haven't got around to frogging it yet, so no progress on that one.  After sorting through my stash, I "found" a wedding sampler I started almost 20 years ago.  The sad part - it only needs a small amount of backstitching, the names and date, and then framing.  I guess I"ll tell her I wanted to make sure the marriage would last!  So next month I hope to have that finished and who knows what else I may find.

WIPocalypse Full Moon dates for 2012:
January 9, February 7, March 8, April 6, May 5, June 4, July 3, August 1, August 31, September 29, October 29, November 28, December 28

Oh No, another addiction!

Need I say more?  I'm know some of you know what I'm talking about!  I tried to avoid it, but thought, what's the harm in looking... well, I sure haven't been stitching.

I have been cleaning up my craft area - what a disaster!  And what am I doing today?  Meeting my stitching gals for lunch and then hitting the superbowl sale at our LNS!  Not that I need anything, but you never know.

Yesterday, the gmen played at a nearby mall for Catholic schools week.  Nathan was happy to hear Spongebob and Spiderman!

We did have a little bit of snow last night, but only enough to make it look pretty.  But I'll take it, especially since last week it felt like spring - darn weather!

I'm not sure what's up with this site, but this post hasn't been showing up on Google Reader.  So here's an update - had lunch with Danielle, Denise, DJ and Jill at Peace of Pizza and then hit the sale at The Stitching Post.  I think we all left happy and with more projects to work on, like we needed more?!  We have a stitching date next weekend (I could so get used to this), and a weekend getaway to try and work out!

High School Pals & Stitching Gals = Great Times

Well, I had quite the girls weekend!  On Saturday night, I had some "old" school friends over - six of them all the way back from elementary school.  We're trying to do this more often and are having a blast getting together.  I don't think I got to bed until after 1am, and that's after having several a couple glasses of skinny margaritas, yum!!

Which leads me to Sunday morning...
 I was actually able to get up, make banana/choc chip bread, figure out what stitchy stuff I wanted to work on, head over to DJ's to pick her up and then head over to Denise's for a stitching afternoon - maybe the margaritas helped because we were 50 minutes early - oops!
I totally forgot to take some pictures while we were stitching, but did get a photo before we left.  We had a wonderful afternoon and had some fine eating in between stitching - thanks so much Denise for a fantastic time!  We need to set up our next stitching date, hopefully at my house... that gives me a great reason to clean up when I have friends over!

Here's the stitching gals - DJ, Me with Shadow, Joann, Danielle, Jill, and Denise. 

 

These two cuties are Mia & Moxie, Denise's babies!  They were saying goodbye to DJ and I as we were leaving.

 

 And here we have Nathan's finished Woody, he was so excited to see it when I came home.  DJ framed it for me when I went to visit with her last week.  Another great job, I love the frame she found!

 

Has it Been a Year Already?!

One year ago today, DJ and I got together for our first stitching date.  We met through one of the Yahoo groups online and clicked!  We found out we both lived in the same state of confusion?, in Maryland, so we just had to meet!  It's been a great year, spending our stitchy time together and talking, talking, talking!  This has been wonderful for me because the last cross stitch friend I had was when I was working... years ago, before having the boys.  I feel as though I'm in a new world, with something other than DMC and Aida.  And I'm very excited that this weekend, we have a stitch date with some new friends - the more the merrier!

 

 

 Even though DJ had to work today, I was able to stop by so we could spend some time together.  We got our frozen treats at Starbucks and I got to watch her run around the frame shop - no wonder she's tired at the end of the day!  

 

 

 

I had bought a frame for my mermaids, but once I pinned it and added the mat, the back wouldn't fit.  So, DJ took it and finished it for me.  Doesn't it look great?  It's supposed to be for my sister-in-law, but until I see her, it's going to be hanging on MY wall!
 Did you ever make something for someone else and then decide to keep it for yourself, or wish you had?!

January TUSAL & Hermitting Away

I know it doesn't look like much, but it's a start!  Since I didn't bring my glass with me to the lake when we had snow/ice, I had to improvise at home.   

Check out the TUSAL info here if you don't know what the heck I'm talking about!

 

Does anyone else use up as much floss as possible before cutting and putting it in the jar?  Not like I can't get more, but I guess old habits die hard!

So for my first IHSW, I worked on One Nation.  This is the SAL DJ & I are working on together.  I need to finish this by July in order to give it to my DH for his birthday.  This is in addition to working on all the other goodies I'd like to stitch... I think I need another IHSW, soon!

 We were at the lake for the long weekend with friends and got snowed/iced in on Saturday. 

The trees were encased in ice and sounded like frozen chimes blowing in the breeze... just beautiful.

The kids had a blast sledding down the hill, over the road and onto the other side - only a few screams of fear thinking they were going to meet the trees!  Shana, if you're reading this - we can't wait until the next time we all get together!  Cabins, camping or caboose, whatever!

Woody's Roundup & Doing the Hermit!

Woody: What chance does a toy like me have against a Buzz Lightyear action figure?

Well, in our house he gets to snuggle with Nathan and go wherever he goes!  
I finished Woody yesterday afternoon while in the car, with Nathan pestering asking me, "Is he done yet?!"  So yes, I am done and we're all happy.  Now he just needs a frame and I have a feeling he'll be on the wall right next to Nathan's bed.


 
I decided to join in on the fun at the IHSW since I'll be snowed/sleeted in at the lake this weekend with friends and family.  I'm thinking that I should be able to handle at least one day every month!

Crossing over the partially frozen lake, waiting on more snow!