New Release

This design was just released through Hoffman Distributing by The Sunflower Seed last week. I stitched both models for this a month or so ago. They are very quick stitches for baby gifts. Could be made into door hanger pillows. In fact, I just found out a close family friend is going to have a baby in December. I may do the baby sleeping one into a door hanger pillow for them. The pattern should be available through your LNS or you may contact The Sunflower Seed directly. As mentioned before, I am working on a large design model for SS now. Did complete the first 1/4 and have started on the second. Ran to the shop yesterday afternoon to have Anita check some colors that I was concerned about. We did change two of them. Little to no frogging to be done. That is why I keep checking back with her as I do it, so if we need to make changes, I am not doing a lot of frogging.

Since Monday is a holiday, the shop is not going to be open so we cannot have our Monday stitching group. We felt like we might have withdrawals, so Janet graciously offered up her house for a stitching Monday. The group is meeting at 10:00AM at Janet's house for stitching most of the day. Everyone is bringing something for lunch to share. I have planned a Hearty Beef Penne Pasta dish. New recipe that I am trying out on the girls. Last Monday, the group was totally out of control during our stitching session. There was bad mouthing, love pats and tooting going on. I got a phone call and had to move to the back room of the shop to be able to hear my call. LOL!!! Those girls are the best friends a gal could have. TOOT!! TOOT!!

Today I am off to the first Kansas State home football game of the year. We play North Texas at 6:00 PM. Hopefully, it won't be too hot today. Upper 80s to low 90s. I don't do hot very well. By 6:00PM, it should start to cool off some. Would like to see a better year than 5-6 and no bowl game last year.

Leave you with a picture of my great-nephew, Cameron, that I am doing the Precious Baby Sampler for. I announced his birth a few weeks ago, but did not have a picture at this time. Just received this one from mom, Megan, this morning. He will be 6 weeks old on Monday. My how time flies.

Thanks to all that stop by and for all the comments. It is appreciated. Still trying to get caught up with my blog reading and commenting. Making a little progress, but will keep working at it.

Off to take shower and do a little stitching before I have to leave for the game. Have an hour drive to get there and don't like to fight too much traffic, so go early and then sit in the parking lot and stitch. Go figure.

Have a great holiday weekend!!!!

Travelogue Part I and Stitching Progress

WARNING: This post is picture heavy. If you only want to see stitching scroll down to the end of this post. Also, if you are a Yankee fan, you may want to scroll down to the end too.

Been home from our trip to Boston, Cooperstown and New York City a week, but it has taken that long to recover from the whirlwind of stuff before we went and then the trip was constant go, go, go. I have also decided to split the trip report up into at least 2 or 3 posts. This one got a little picture heavy anyway. This will be the Boston leg of the trip. Our tour group consisted of 66 people from various parts of Kansas, mostly the Topeka area. Fifty of us went to the Kansas City Airport on a motor coach on Monday the 11th.. The others went either early or on different flights. Everything seemed to be going fine, but right after we got to the airport they went downhill fast. Our flight was scheduled to leave at 2:25PM, but by 1, we found out it was being delayed to 2:55PM, then 4:15PM, then 6:15PM do to weather issues (rain) in Boston. After the last announced delay of 2 more hours, most everyone disappeared to do something to waste time. I slayed behind to try to get in a few stitches. It was not hardly 10 minutes later that they announced they were beginning boarding the flight to Boston. There was some fast and furious calls to people that had left the gate area. Most had to go back through security. We left KC about 5 or so. Touched down in Boston at 8:45PM. We were scheduled to have dinner at Cheers (or whatever it is called) at 8. The tour director had been in contact with them and they were very nice to accommodate us whenever we arrived in Boston. Here is a familiar sign.

After a very nice late dinner, we spent a little time in the bar. Morris said he could make that bar a habit. He really like the looks of it. I guess he thought that he and Norm could hang out together.

On Tuesday morning when I woke up, my back was a mess. Sent Morris out for ibuprofen and I started taking them right away because I sure wanted to be able to go to Fenway Park for our tour and the game. Usually I have such things in my purse, but I had repacked things to have a smaller purse.

With me nursing my back, that left Morris to do some touring basically on his own. We both like to see other state capitol buildings since he works for the state and I am retired from the state. Here are some pictures he took of the Massachusetts State Capitol.

Massachusetts State Capitol Building

Massachusetts State Senate Chambers
(They meet in the round)

Massachusetts State House of Representatives Chamber

Now comes the part that Yankee fans will not want to see. In mid-afternoon we were taken to Fenway Park for a tour and later a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Texas Rangers.

One Entrance to Fenway Park



World Championship 2007 Pennant outside Fenway

Behind home plate on the tour.
Texas Rangers on field
Green Monster in the background

View from the top of Green Monster

Part of the Tour Group sitting on top of the Green Monster

View looking straight down from the Green Monster

View from the Right Field Bleachers where we sat.

As many of you know, the Red Sox are sold out for the year most of the time. Our tour director had to get our tickets through a broker and had to pay on the average of $100 per ticket. Knowing that this might be the only time I ever got in Fenway Park, I just too the ticket and enjoyed the game. And enjoy the game we did. The final score was 19-17 Red Sox. It was not without drama. Red Sox scored 10 runs in the lst inning, but Texas came back and went ahead late in the game, but the Red Sox got a home run and went on to win. David Ortiz had a double and home run in the lst for 6 RBIs.

View of the Green Monster from our Bleacher Seats

As I was planning what to put in this post, I had thoughts of more pictures, but when I started uploading them into blogger, I cut back on the number of pictures. It was going to make this way to long. I did not get too see much of Boston myself other than in the dark when we got there and from our hotel window when I was nursing my back. I was really disappointed that I did not get to take in more of the city. Hopefully there will be another time to do that. The morning after the game we boarded a motor coach for Cooperstown, New York and the Baseball Hall of Fame. Details of that part of the trip to come in another post. My plans were to get some stitching done on the bus, but that did not happen very much. Too much going on around me and as we got closer to Cooperstown, winding roads. My iPod came in handy for that part of the trip.

During the week before we left, I had another birthday lunch with one of my friends, also a stitcher. She gave this beautiful quilted wall hanging that she had made. I had seen a similar one that her mother had started before she passed away. Sandi had finished it and hand quilted it. I fell in love with it. So she made this for me and had someone machine quilt it. The machine quilting is so pretty. It is hard to see it in this picture. Should have taken a photo of the back to be able to see it better. I am so in love with this piece. I have the perfect place to hang it. Have to rearrange some things on wall and put in a couple more nails, but it will be on the wall soon.

Although I did not get much stitching done on our trip, I have been getting quite a bit of stitching done this past week. Sometime the week before we left, I started working on a new design for The Sunflower Seed. It is another rather large piece and is going to take a while to complete. Right now I am about 1/4 done with it. No photos until it is released. Speaking of released designs, one of the small designs that i worked on recently was released this week. I had planned to include a photo, but something happened to it and now I have to go download it again. Try to do a quick post showing it in a day or two.

Here are photo updates for "In My Father's House" and "Precious Baby". There is more grass and the red house is bigger on My Father's House and the green striped book and the rattle at the bottom of it are almost done. Started a white blanket over to the right side. It is hard to see. Also have started 2 of the 4 Christmas presents that I plan to do. No photos of them until after Christmas.

In My Father's House

Precious Baby

I returned to 194 e-mail and 85 posts to my Google Reader. You almost feel like you are drowning when you have that much to read. Between that, laundry, watching the Olympics and the normal day to day things going on, it has been a struggle getting getting caught up on things. Saturday is the beginning of college football and I will be going to the Kansas State home games. We have 2 weeks in a row with home games and then we have 2 weeks off. Actually, I am looking forward to see what kind of team they can field this year.

The dog has been waiting on me to leave the computer ever since I started this post. She has gotten fed up and went and laid down on the couch without me and let out a big sigh. Poor baby. I guess I better go sit down and stitch so she can lay beside me.

Hope I did not bore you too much with all my Fenway Park and Boston stuff Next installment will be posted in a few days. Until then, keep on stitching!!!!!

AWARDS!! AWARDS!! AWARDS!!

I have been honored with two blog awards. Not sure that my recent blog efforts warrant awards, since I have been missing in action for most of this month. I have no idea where this month has gone, but here it is the 21st/22nd and it seems like yesterday that we turned the calendar page.

The "Brillante Weblog" award was made most recently by Erica. There was at least one other person that made the same award to me, but I forgot to keep track of who it was and now cannot find who it was. I am so sorry that I am so unorganized in knowing who made the award. Let me assure you that is is very much appreciated. Never in my wildest dreams would I ever have believed that I would get awards much less make the friends that I have made through blogging.

Mary Ann awarded me the "I Love Your Blog" award. I love reading Mary Ann's blog to see all the charity stitching that she does and she has done some very special pieces. Thanks Mary Ann. I tried to pass this award along faster than the other one. Then I don't lose track of who made the award.

Deciding who to make the awards to was a difficult decision. I attempt to read a lot of blogs. However, the operative word here is "attempt" because it is beginning to take on a life of its own. If I read all the great stitching blogs that are out there, I would have no time left to stitch. In the interest of time, etc., I am awarding both awards to the same 7 people. I hope no one is offended if they are left off this list. It was a difficult decision to pick only 7. I am also trying to pick those that have not had awards before. Everyone is deserving.

AND THE AWARDS GO TO:

Danielle - Hanging By A Thread

Kajsa - Kajsa's Stitching and more

Sharon - One Life to Live

Wanda - WBSTITCHES

Courtney - Santa Stitches

Jane - Jane's Jots

Sarah - Stitching At Home

For those of you who have been awarded, please post the following rules on your Blog.

1. The winner can put the logo on their Blog.

2. Link the person you received your award from.

3. Nominate at least 7 other Blogs.

4. Put the links to those Blogs on yours.

5. Leave a message on the Blogs of those you've nominated.

Blogger has not been kind to me during this post. I started this last night and everything was not working very well. Had trouble getting the logos saved and then uploaded into blogger. Therefore I just saved where I was and left it until this morning to finish. This is the first time I have ever had very much of a problem with blogger. Have read where others have had problems, I guess it just finally decided to create problems for me. Oh well, it is done now.

Had hoped that there would be time to do some stitching news and a report on my recent trip to Boston, Cooperstown and New York. Will have to save to another time. Also have received another neat birthday present since my last post. That will come later too.

Thanks to all who stop, read and comment. It is greatly appreciated. Quaker Christmas has received many wonderful comments. Thank you. Thank you. It still amazes me that I got it done. Well, I am off to stitch, make comments to those that received awards and other household chores. Take care everyone and keep on stitching!!!

Quaker Christmas Unveiled and Other Stuff

Yes, I am still here. It has been over 2 weeks since I last made a real post. Many of you mention that you have lost your stitching mojo. However, for me, it seems that I have lost my blogging mojo. Not sure what it is going to take to get it back, so this might be a very boring and dull post Trying my best to make it interesting. Maybe is because all my energy goes into stitching and keeping up with everyone else's blogs. Man, you guys keep me busy just trying to keep up. The lowest I have had my Google Reader since the end of May is 30. The day that I got it to that level, I left to run errands, attend a meeting and go to Monday Stitch Therapy. When I returned in less than 9 hours, there were 18 new posts in my Reader. That does not even include blogs I try to read that are not in my Reader. How does everyone find the time to blog everyday and accomplish as much as everyone does? I need to know every one's secret. Makes me feel like the laziest person on earth.

Now for the long awaited unveiling. I picked up my "A Quaker Christmas" from the framer a little over a week ago.

The total cost of framing was $95.63. The 15 1/4x24 frame was $64.00 and the stretching and mounting was $25.00. The rest was sales tax. I don't usually put glass on my pieces unless they are going to hung somewhere there will be smoking or cooking oils, etc. To me the cost seem very reasonable for the size of piece it is. Never had a piece this big before. Brought it home the first night and all Morris could say about it was "it's big". We are still trying to figure out the best place to hang it. Currently, it is on display at The Sunflower Seed. It will probably be there for several months. And I love it even more now.

Been getting quite a bit of stitching done between other things going on around here. We are about ready to wrap up the church cookbook. I have all the salads and soups done to the tune of 119 recipes. The total as of Friday morning was 524 for the entire book. The committee has our final meeting tomorrow.

Finished up the second of two small design models for Anita at The Sunflower Seed. These will both be included in the same pattern. For the last week or so I have been working on a very large design for her. So far has been fun to stitch. When I need to have some variety, I have stitched on "In My Father House", my memorial sampler. Have planted quite a bit of green grass and started the big brick red house in the middle. Have all my Christmas stitching decided and part of them kitted up. Even started stitching on one of them. However, there won't be any pictures until after Christmas, because all the giftees read my blog. Never too soon to get started on Christmas stitching. Then there is the baby sampler that I started back after I finished QC. To see a picture of my start go here. It was on 28ct antique white lugana and I struggled with it for about 3 weeks and I was not liking how it was turning out. Most of the outside border was half crosses and they made things kinda lean in that direction. The blue elephant stitches were crappy. After grumbling to Anita about it, she convinced me to change the fabric and approach the design from another way. Changed the fabric to 28ct lambswool linen and started in the middle rather than the upper left corner. Will stich all the motifs in the design and then go back and put some of the background and border in with full crosses. I am liking it better. I knew I needed to do something or I was going to hate the project before I got it done. Here is my progress so far. It is hard to visualize what it is from this picture. It is going to be like a photo album with a place for name and statistics in the middle. The little green and blue blob at the bottom with be a rattle. This is a Bobby G design named "Precious Baby".
In fact, the baby is here. My great-nephew Cameron Lee Jensen Vohs arrived July 21st, 9:09PM, weighing in at 7lbs, 7.5oz, 19 1/4 inches long. Went last week to see him and forgot to take my camera. Has lots of brown hair and looks a great deal like his daddy. Had the baby afghan done, so took it when we went to see him.
While visiting with my niece, Megan, she asked me about some receiving blankets I had made her when her first son was born. They were made of cotton plisse and hemmed around the edge. She liked the size and they were not as heavy as a traditional flannel receiving blanket and Cameron likes to be swaddled. So last week I went fabric shopping at JoAnns. They did not have any plisse like I wanted, but found a couple of suitable substitutes. Spent Friday morning hemming them and then washed them and gave them to her mother this weekend to take to her. One has blue hippos and the the yellow ducky. Love the little ducks.
A week ago today, I had another birthday. I have been celebrating it for several days. Ate our twice on Sunday and once on the Friday before and then have another lunch this Wednesday. I like to spread it out. Received lots of birthday goodies. Gift certificate to the Sunflower Seed, a fleece scarf with pockets (don't need it now with 100 degree weather), KSU CD holder, KSU Magnetic Can Koozie, a Friend picture frame with a picture in it of my stitching friends, Hershey Chocolate cookbook, decorative painted plate and 2 red star shaped Longaberger dishes. That is the short list and I am sure that I left off some stuff. Already had the case and charger for my iPod from Reina. Got lots of wonderful cards and well wishes as well. All in all it was a great birthday and I really don't mind getting a year older. Thanks everyone for the cards, gifts and well wishes.

Along with everything else going on, I planned an Army Reunion for my dad's WW!! Army outfit. This took place this weekend at a local hotel. Friday afternoon and all day Saturday was spent visiting. Last night then we had a banquet for 17. Originally there were around 190 men in the outfit and my dad thinks that there might be only 11 of them still living. Five men attended this year. They have been having reunions since 1967. Originally, they were held every 5 years, then every 3, then 2, and now they are held every year. The number attending keeps going down, but they have made promises to each other that they will continue to meet as long as there is one man standing. Last night they laughed that they might be there, but standing was getting harder and harder to do. The men attending were from Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri and 2 from Kansas. Here is a picture of the men. They are all in their late 80s and early 90s. My dad will is standing in the blue shirt and will be 88 later this month. Both my sisters were here for the weekend to attend the reunion with my dad. Since it has been held for so long, not only are the men very close, so are the families.Things don't look like they will be slowing down anytime soon. Tomorrow I have a cookbook meeting, pick up election supplies for the primary on Tuesday and we have tickets for the Royals vs. Red Sox in Kansas City tomorrow night. Tuesday, I work as Supervising Judge at the primary election from 6:00AM to 8:00PM. Makes for a long day, but I think it is my civic duty to help out. Work on Thursday at the Sunflower Seed and then we have Royals tickets for Friday night. On Monday the 11th, we leave for our Hall of Fame trip to Boston, Cooperstown, and New York. As time allow, I will try to post again before we leave.

If you have made it through all of this, I thank you. Sorry I got a little wordy. That is what happens when I go a long time between posts. I think there is still one award that I need to pass on, but I will wait until another time to do that. I am off to do a little stitching and rest up for my early and very long day on Tuesday.

Happy Stitching!!!!!