tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84238377993881911672024-03-13T09:31:01.267-05:00Purple WildcatTales From an Addicted Stitcher and Lover of All Things PurpleKathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129782982079230707noreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423837799388191167.post-86039014763852197002010-06-24T23:55:00.013-05:002010-07-06T20:51:08.549-05:00Long Overdue Update -- Part 2<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">No, I have not fallen off the face of the earth. It seems like when I have computer time, I would rather spend my time on Facebook playing games, etc. Still need to figure out a 12-step program for those of us that have become addicted to Facebook. My last few experiences with Blogger have not been that great so it does not help me get back into blogging very fast. A couple of people that I have met through blogging have just given up doing it. At this point, I am not going to give it up, but I am going to be a very infrequent poster. When I started this over 3 years ago, I really had fun with it and now it has become work. Maybe with a semi-retired state, I can get my blogging mojo back. Bear with me during this time. I will keep you updated on happening, but some time the news may be old news. As is some of the information near the end of this post. <p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Beginning shortly after the 1st of the year, I started work on the 2010 Shop Hop Sampler. It was not something that I could show until after the Shop Hop was held. It was the 1st weekend of May. The Hop involves 5 LNS in the area, including The Sunflower Seed where I work. In this year's design, each of the other 4 shops did the individual motifs and Anita at The Sunflower Seed did the extensive border. We added several Just Another Button Company buttons to the sampler to liven it up.</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/TCREAHA_ggI/AAAAAAAABTM/9uO2D0ShG_A/s1600/2010+Hop+Sampler.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486585014718005762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/TCREAHA_ggI/AAAAAAAABTM/9uO2D0ShG_A/s200/2010+Hop+Sampler.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">30-ct R&R Cafe Kona</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">GAST thread<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">My youngest nephew graduated from high school in mid-May and I stitched this for him. He is a lot younger than my other nephew and niece and I was not sure that he really would want something that his aunt stitched for him. So I just asked him and he said "yes" like he thought I was stupid that I even had to ask. The colors used were his school colors of Red and Pewter Gray.</span><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/TCRDqnGT7xI/AAAAAAAABTE/M-OKWocc3uo/s1600/Trevor+Grad+Framed.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486584645373128466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/TCRDqnGT7xI/AAAAAAAABTE/M-OKWocc3uo/s200/Trevor+Grad+Framed.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">The Graduate</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">by The Sunflower Seed</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">DMC thread<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">I still am working on several BAPs and have finished two design model for The Sunflower Seed. Those photos will come later. Here is a progress picture of Quaker Gone Spooky. That tree is taking forever. Actually I have done quite a bit of work on this since the photo was taken. The fence on the bottom right is done. A couple of the off white Quaker motifs are done and just this morning I finished the tree. I almost feel like the project is done now that the tree is done.</span><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/TCRCdQJjnnI/AAAAAAAABS8/_e1dn7qM4yc/s1600/Quaker+Gone+Spooky+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486583316362796658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 178px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/TCRCdQJjnnI/AAAAAAAABS8/_e1dn7qM4yc/s200/Quaker+Gone+Spooky+3.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Quaker Gone Spooky</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">by Michelle Ink Designs</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">30-ct R&R Lucky Penny</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Thread Gather and</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Belle Soie Silks </span></div><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Have you seen the new design by ByGone Stitches "One Nation"? I am such a sucker for patriotic designs that when I saw it I fell in love with it. Here is a photo of the design (taken from Stitching Pretty web site). You can probably tell where I am headed with this. Yes, I have started it. Sometime before Memorial Day I started this and have gotten a small amount done.</span></p><div align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/TCRA660XtCI/AAAAAAAABS0/Cci9hODU0CM/s1600/one+nation+pattern.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486581627009610786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/TCRA660XtCI/AAAAAAAABS0/Cci9hODU0CM/s200/one+nation+pattern.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I started looking through my stash for fabric and found some Picture This Plus Shale that I had ordered a yard of for another project. After cutting the piece for the other project, the remaining piece was just the right size for One Nation. Go figure. It was meant to be. The color shown in the picture is far from representative of the actual color. The color is a gray color. In the photo, it looks like a muddy color. I am using DMC threads because I knew it would be a long-term project and was not sure that I would buy enough of the overdyes in the same dye lot to finish it a couple of years down the road.</span> <div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/TCQ-tt_8vGI/AAAAAAAABSk/YMxm9mCsGUE/s1600/One+Nation+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486579201206959202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 168px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/TCQ-tt_8vGI/AAAAAAAABSk/YMxm9mCsGUE/s200/One+Nation+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> One Nation</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">by ByGone Stitches</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">28-ct Shale by PTP</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">In the last week, I have finished a Blackbird Designs little stocking that I started over a year ago. That photo will be in my next post. My Jenny Bean Halloween sampler is back from the framer also. It looks awesome. Photo to follow in the next post.<br /><p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Along with all the stitching, I am still doing some crocheting. Am up to about 35 potholders crocheted and have not yet kept one for myself. Here is another pink baby afghan that I made for Anita's new granddaughter. Baby was born last Tuesday June 29th. Over the weekend I started another baby afghan for a baby due in September. Using a new pattern and had a few difficulties, but have it figured out now.<br /></div></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/TCQ8y8z_L7I/AAAAAAAABSc/p72CxMFTPG8/s1600/Pink+Baby+Afghan.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486577092059410354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/TCQ8y8z_L7I/AAAAAAAABSc/p72CxMFTPG8/s200/Pink+Baby+Afghan.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">WARNING--Most of the rest of this stuff is old news.</span></div><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">In mid-March I attended the Heartland Stitch-In at Excelsior Springs, Missouri, north of Kansas City. This was the 17th year this camp has been put on by the Heartland Stitch Counters Society. I have only attended 4 times now. The stitch-in was held in a new place this year. Always before it had been held in Parkville, Missouri. I, for one, liked the old place better. One one good feature of this place was that you only had to go outside if you wanted to visit the mini-shop that was in another small building. When you see the next photo, you will understand why that was a good feature. Beginning before noon on Saturday and until Sunday morning it snowed. This was what it looked like Sunday morning. I think we ended up with 4-6 inches of snow on the 3rd weekend of March.</span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/TCQ7iLP4BEI/AAAAAAAABSU/qjKTMogJz5w/s1600/Heartland+Stitch-in+3-20-10.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486575704365073474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/TCQ7iLP4BEI/AAAAAAAABSU/qjKTMogJz5w/s200/Heartland+Stitch-in+3-20-10.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">During the weekend, I was able to meet 3 members of my Kansas Stitchers Yahoo group in person. It is so great to put faces with names you read online. Shown below are Laura Landis and Mary Lou Griswold. Mary Lou is the one on the right with her wrist in a cast. About 3 weeks before the stitch-in she broke her wrist in several places and has all kinds of metal in her wrist. She still came to camp and had a great time even if she could not stitch.<br /></span><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/TCQ6ldVD_BI/AAAAAAAABSM/FnB1WfcB9BQ/s1600/Ks+Stitchers+at+Heartland.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486574661246647314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/TCQ6ldVD_BI/AAAAAAAABSM/FnB1WfcB9BQ/s200/Ks+Stitchers+at+Heartland.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">The designer for the stitch-in was Ellen Chester of <a href="http://withmyneedle.com/">With My Needle </a>with her teaching design "Fruit of the Vine Sampler Huswif". Wonderful design. It is always hard for me to work on the piece during one of those classes. I am a very slow stitcher and I feel really rushed to keep up with everything, so I just did a sample of all of the special stitches on a doodle cloth. I think there are 28 specialty stitches on the design. Here is a photo of the project taken from the With My Needle website.<br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/TCQ5yqoOxeI/AAAAAAAABSE/gXtHVxyKQe8/s1600/FruitVineWeb.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486573788643378658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 196px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/TCQ5yqoOxeI/AAAAAAAABSE/gXtHVxyKQe8/s200/FruitVineWeb.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">During the weekend of the Stitch-in the 1st and 2nd rounds of the NCAA Basketball tournament were being held. My school, Kansas State University was playing in Oklahoma City. I had my little Acer laptop and was keeping track online. (They had Wi-fi available. Cool). Before the game on Saturday night Morris called me to say that my basketball buddy had called wondering if I wanted to go to the Sweet 16 in Salt Lake City the next week if KSU won. That was a rather dumb question. Of course, I wanted to go. It had been 22 years since KSU had gotten that far and I was there that time when they did it. The rest of the story is that KSU won and we were headed to Salt Lake City. Fun trip. Meant picking my friend up at 3:00AM to make the 1 hour drive to Manhattan to the airport to meet the KSU Alumni Charter Flight.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;">On Thursday night KSU played a double overtime game against Xavier and won. See scoreboard photo.<br /></p><p align="justify"></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/TCQ5YfOp02I/AAAAAAAABR8/a3cjLFmKFAI/s1600/IMGP1339.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486573338906710882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/TCQ5YfOp02I/AAAAAAAABR8/a3cjLFmKFAI/s200/IMGP1339.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">On Saturday, they played Butler and we all know how that ended. Butler won and went on to the Final Four and made quite a run. We had a great time and are looking forward to another good year next year and maybe we can go that far or farther two years in a row.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Upon arriving home from Salt Lake City, I found several e-mails from some very close family friends that their mother was gravely ill. Before I had a chance to deal with that, I received a call from my brother-in-law that the family had called to say that Alyce had lost her battle and was gone to heaven to join her husband and my mom. I know it was a joyous reunion for them, but it was sure hard on those of us left here. I had known Alyce and her husband, Chuck all of my life. They were like a second set of parents. Growing up we did a lot of things together as families. After my mom's passing, Alyce always remembered us on birthdays and holidays, I know trying to fill the void left by the loss of my mom. Morris and I traveled to Beaver Lake, Arkansas, where they had retired to in 1980, for the services. Then on to Wichita for burial beside her beloved husband Chuck. Alyce we miss you.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Our little Monday night stitch group invaded the Sage Inn at Dover again the second weekend of April. A great time was had by all. Not sure how much stitching go done. Lots of laughing, eating and generally enjoying every one's company. Each time we get together, I keep a list of some of the more interesting quotes and include them here. This time it was so long ago, that I am having trouble making sense of them. However, one quote I will include is Jan--- "I am all out of adjustment" and the response -- Anita-"Everything Normal". Sorry Jan, I had to do it.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Below is a picture of everyone, including the Jack and Josie, the B&B dogs.</span></p><p align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/TCQ4TVCemNI/AAAAAAAABR0/wbi7lQioowY/s1600/Group+with+Dogs.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486572150760315090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/TCQ4TVCemNI/AAAAAAAABR0/wbi7lQioowY/s200/Group+with+Dogs.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">This is getting rather long, but I need to do an update on my rescue dog, Dottie. About a month ago, I took her in to be spayed. Nothing unusual about that, but when they got in there found that she had a uterine infection. It was a good thing that I took her in when I did. The vet tech told me that in another week or so, I would have had a very sick dog and might have lost her. She is doing good. We have slimmed her down a bit. Sure wish I could do that to myself. She is my shadow around the house and loves to go for rides in the car. She has a few bad habits that we need to work on, but that will come in time.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Thanks for bearing with me on this long post. This is what happens when I don't do this very often. I have had the pictures for this loaded over a week, but just did not get to doing the narrative. I worked 3 days last week while Anita was away with her new granddaughter. I guess I should not call it work, because I enjoy it, but it limits the time for stitching, etc. As I said at the beginning, don't expect a blog very often, but I will keep doing it ever so often. Thanks to all my reader and commenters, you make this worth doing. Until next time................Happy Stitching!!!!!!!!!</span><br /></p></span></span>Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129782982079230707noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423837799388191167.post-685485013881351452010-05-09T23:29:00.012-05:002010-05-11T00:29:12.048-05:00Long Overdue Update -- Part 1<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">OK, I promised an update over the weekend. Obviously, that did not happen. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">I </span><span style="font-family:arial;">will get to that story shortly. It has been really hard to get back into blogging. Seems like I might have a mental block, so bear with me on this one. Maybe I can break through and keep it up weekly or so. I was able to get blogger to upload my pictures last night with plans to do the narrative today sometime. Because so much has been happening I am going to break down into at least 2 parts. Otherwise you would be reading a novel, and I know that you do not want to read that much.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Late Breaking News!!!</strong></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">We have a new addition to the family. Not sure whether I ever mentioned the little Boston Terrier that used run lose in our neighborhood over a year ago. She was just a puppy and her owners were living with their parents temporarily and she was always running away with a Doberman puppy. We would catch her and take her home all the time. Late last summer they moved away. Took her with them. I was always worried that she would get hit on the road or attack by coyotes. At one time, I mentioned to the father that lives there that I would take her if they ever did not want her. A week ago, he showed up at my door asking if I was still interested in Dottie. Told him I would talk to Morris and get back to them. Well, on Saturday evening Jenny brought her by. We talked for awhile and I said I would take her. Dottie is a not quite 3-yr old Boston Terrier. Jenny said she had papers, but had not been able to find them. She does not look like my Boston Terrier totally. She has the Boston Terrier black and white markings, but more of a Pug body. I am thinking that kind of cross would be called a "Bug"</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S-ePp91mrMI/AAAAAAAABRs/oVh6TXG9kyk/s1600/Dottie+5-9-10.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469498223601560770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 137px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S-ePp91mrMI/AAAAAAAABRs/oVh6TXG9kyk/s200/Dottie+5-9-10.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">DOTTIE</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Things have gone rather smoothly. They tended to leave her outside or in an unfinished basement all by herself, so they were not sure how well house broken she was. We have not had any problems with that. She is crated at night. Muffin, my Boston, has her bluff in on her. She still rules the roost. Took her to my vet this morning. Got all her shots updated and a physical. She did not mind that at all. Muffin likes riding to the vet, but when we go in she gets very nervous. Found out tonight she might have a little fear of thunderstorms. She had to lay on my stitching couch right next to me.</span></div><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Now back to the update of things going on for the last couple of months. There are a couple of <a href="http://www.thesunflowerseed.com/">Sunflower Seed </a>designs that she released at market that I stitched and have not shown here. The first one was stitched last fall, but she held it for release at market.</span></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S-eOeLqeaFI/AAAAAAAABRk/-yJZpI0UQ-Q/s1600/SS+Be+Wise.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469496921642920018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S-eOeLqeaFI/AAAAAAAABRk/-yJZpI0UQ-Q/s200/SS+Be+Wise.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Be Wise</span><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">30-ct R&R Kansas City Blend</span><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">GAST Threads (I think)</span><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The second Sunflower Seed design, I stitched 2 of the smaller pieces, Anita stitched 2, and another person stitched the model containing them all. We both do not like to stitch thing twice, so this was a group project. I stitched the Spring and Summer Bouquets at the bottom.</span></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S-eOX8zGgGI/AAAAAAAABRc/eqA10g_Pnww/s1600/SS+SEASONAL+BOUQUETS.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469496814573355106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S-eOX8zGgGI/AAAAAAAABRc/eqA10g_Pnww/s200/SS+SEASONAL+BOUQUETS.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Seasonal Bouquet</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">30-ct R&R Apple Brown Bindy</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">DMC thread</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Actually, I have had a finish of my own projects. I started Jenny Bean Halloween Sampler as my January 1st project for one of my Yahoo groups. She is done and waiting on the frame<em>. </em>I did it on 28-ct instead of 40-ct like the model was stitched on. I did use the Limited Edition GAST thread pack, but had to get more of the black(Nightmare/Black Crow). Loved stitching this. It was a really fun stitch.</span><br /></p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S-eOQ1NERlI/AAAAAAAABRU/uhQUTaMsY3M/s1600/Jenny+Bean+Finished.jpg"><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469496692275693138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S-eOQ1NERlI/AAAAAAAABRU/uhQUTaMsY3M/s200/Jenny+Bean+Finished.jpg" border="0" /></em><br /><p align="center"></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Jenny Bean Halloween Sampler</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">by Shakespeare's Peddler</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">28-ct R&R DK Cappuccino</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Limited Edition GAST Threads</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Lots of things have been going on during the past few months that helped to take away my time to do stitching and blogging. I think in my last post I was getting ready to work at the shop several straight days while Anita was gone to market. Right after she got back, we got a call from South Dakota that Morris's last remaining uncle had passed. The weather was OK for traveling, but the temperature up there was frigid. The morning of the funeral it was 15 below and the high that day was 15.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">After we got back from there, my niece had her little baby girl on March 2nd. A couple posts back you will find the pink afghan that I made for her. This photo was taken just hours after she was born.</span></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S-eN05XfuLI/AAAAAAAABRM/VgR_u0g9-80/s1600/Lauren+Vohs+3-2-10.jpg"><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469496212356839602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 132px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S-eN05XfuLI/AAAAAAAABRM/VgR_u0g9-80/s200/Lauren+Vohs+3-2-10.jpg" border="0" /></em></a><em> </em><span style="font-family:arial;">Lauren Kathryn Elnora</span></p><span style="font-family:arial;"><p align="justify">Her second and third names are for her great-grandmothers. The "Kathryn" was part of my mom's name. We went to see her the weekend after she was born. I got to babysit while Mom, Dad and Nana ran some errands. Mom works in the town where I live, so I have offered to babysit some if needed. However, she able to take her to work with her until she is 6 months old or until there is a problem. Below are the receiving blankets that I made for her. Several years ago, I got into making these from 1 1/4 yards of flannel. My niece loves them because they are bigger than the receiving blankets you buy. My sister requested the pink ones since this one was a girl and the other ones she had were for the boys.<br /></p><br /><p align="justify"></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S-eNixLfH6I/AAAAAAAABRE/rLTN-Whnmxo/s1600/Lauren"><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469495900921339810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 135px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S-eNixLfH6I/AAAAAAAABRE/rLTN-Whnmxo/s200/Lauren%27s+Receiving+Blankets.jpg" border="0" /></em></a><span style="font-family:arial;">The day after Lauren was born, a gal in Morris's office that I am friends with had a baby boy. So I crocheted this afghan and made 2 receiving blankets for her.</span><em> </em><span style="font-family:arial;">She and her husband are Kansas State grads and big fans as I am, I had to incorporate purple into everything. Finding yarn with purple and still look babyish and not girlish was hard.</span><br /><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469495565735033138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 148px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S-eNPQg1-TI/AAAAAAAABQ8/97lXjOciL_c/s200/Carrie%27s+Baby+Afghan.jpg" border="0" /></em></p><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Baby Afghan</span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S-eM46Lg50I/AAAAAAAABQ0/mXLB8sbnBdI/s1600/Carrie"><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469495181782869826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S-eM46Lg50I/AAAAAAAABQ0/mXLB8sbnBdI/s200/Carrie%27s+Receiving+Blankets.jpg" border="0" /></em></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">2 Receiving Blankets</span><em></em></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Since I spent many miles in a car for the trip to South Dakota and the lighting in South Dakota for stitching is not the best, I managed to finish another prayer shawl for the church. Have another one started.</span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S-eMo61Ge2I/AAAAAAAABQs/Lky_JKnbw-Y/s1600/blue-brown+prayer+shawl.jpg"><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469494907079392098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 140px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S-eMo61Ge2I/AAAAAAAABQs/Lky_JKnbw-Y/s200/blue-brown+prayer+shawl.jpg" border="0" /></em></a></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Prayer Shawl</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Also have been making more potholders. Both my sisters and my niece have received one. I had enough made up to give one to each of my Monday Night Stitch Group on our Spring Retreat. More about that on my next installment of the update. At the time this picture was taken I had made 21 potholders. As of today, I have made 5 more. My sister found me some leftover yarn somewhere and </span></p><p align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S-eMNp6DhkI/AAAAAAAABQk/BqWKyETuhP0/s1600/Pot+Holders+2.jpg"><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469494438680299074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 156px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S-eMNp6DhkI/AAAAAAAABQk/BqWKyETuhP0/s200/Pot+Holders+2.jpg" border="0" /></em></a><em><br /></em><span style="font-family:arial;">There is a lot more to cover, but blogger has been giving me problems with formatting. Either it puts in too many lines between things or it will not let me center thing. Then after awhile it decides to center all the text and I don't want it that way. I figure I should get this posted before it blows up entirely. It deleted one photo, but I was able to recover it from the autosave copy.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Again, I want to thank all of my followers for bearing with me during my time off. I am not even going to promise to do better, because I would not want to break a promise. your comments and encouraging words are very much appreciated. Another thing that might help my blogging and blog reading is if I could stay away from Facebook. Whoever invented that was not a stitcher. It is addictive. Maybe someone should start a 12-step program for Facebook addicts.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Part 2 should be up in a few days. Will try to cover the 2 stitch retreats I have gone to, my trip to the NCAA West Regionals and the Shop Hop among other things.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Happy Stitching to All !!!!!!</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">PS--Dottie is laying on a big floor pillow snoring away!!!</span></p>Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129782982079230707noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423837799388191167.post-22783400689230361442010-05-06T23:06:00.003-05:002010-05-08T00:36:56.604-05:00What The H*** Happened?????<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">What the H*** happened to March and April? It seems that one day it was the last of February and the next thing I know it is May 1st. Maybe I should just say that I took a hiatis from blogging. However, it just seems like I never had time to get it done. My apologies to all my followers and I hope you all will stick with me. Hopefully things will slow down I almost feel like I need to re-introduce myself. <p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Last night (Thursday night) was going to be the beginning of my first attempt at blogging in over 2 months. Today (Friday), I was going to be working at the LNS--The Sunflower Seed, so I thought I would have some time to work on my blog. Was going to upload my photos and then do the narrative today at the shop. After numerous attempts, blogger would not let me upload pictures. I guess after such a long time without doing it, blogger decided what was one more day. <p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Here is a partial list of things that have gone on in the last 2 months.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">2 Out of State funerals</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">New great niece</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">2 Stitching Retreats</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Traveled to the NCAA West Regionals</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Shop Hop</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Trip to Vera Bradley and Brighton Jewelry Stores <p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">My plan is to hit the highlights of the last two months. It might mean that I have to do it in more than one part. Posting at least one part is on the agenda for this weekend. <p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Another unfortunate thing that has impeded by blogging is my addiction to Facebook and its games. Bejeweled Blitz is rather addictive as some of my Facebook friends have found out. Hey, Wanda you are ahead of me now. <p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Along with doing a blog this weekend, I may be acquiring another Boston Terrier. It is a long story. Will give an update by the end of the weekend.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Wish me luck with blogger uploading photos. <p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Also, I thank all my followers that have stayed with me during my hiatis. I do appreciate your kind encouraging words. Hang in there, I will try to stay off Facebook long enough to blog and still have some stitching time.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Happy Stitching!!!!!!</span></div><br /></span></span></span></span></span><br /></span>Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129782982079230707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423837799388191167.post-43757721974657292992010-02-17T23:56:00.009-06:002010-02-20T00:35:32.122-06:00Yes, I Know!!!!<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">This is a phrase that I use often when my local stitching friends say "you have not done an update to your blog". My response is always "yes, I know". No real excuses, just too lazy or would rather stitch or mess on Facebook. I loaded the pictures for this a couple of days ago and they were actually taken over a week ago. More evidence of my procrastination of doing a blog update. <p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">My last stitching Christmas present is finally completed and was given to the lucky recipient last week. It is LHN-Under the Prairie Moon done on 30-ct. R&R Irish Creme with the called for Belle Soie silk. Frame is Pecan Pearls from East Side Moulding.</span></div><div align="justify"></div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S3zfXWTg-qI/AAAAAAAABQU/-uigbehfS8Q/s1600-h/Under+Prairie+Moon+Framed.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439468042174134946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 170px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S3zfXWTg-qI/AAAAAAAABQU/-uigbehfS8Q/s200/Under+Prairie+Moon+Framed.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="justify"></a><span style="font-family:arial;">I did have a small finish. It is a Primitive Betty freebie off her blog. Done on a left over piece of Irish Creme with my beloved Belle Soie Cranberry and Noir. Had hoped I would take time and make it into a little hanging pillow. Did not happen. Maybe by next Valentine's Day.</span><br /><br /></p><div align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S3zd7f2hEdI/AAAAAAAABQM/uSogC4xjIB4/s1600-h/PB+Valentine.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439466464188895698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 110px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S3zd7f2hEdI/AAAAAAAABQM/uSogC4xjIB4/s200/PB+Valentine.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> There has been some progress on the Shakespeare's Peddler Jenny Been Halloween sampler my STO Yahoo Group January 1st start. It is on 28-ct R&R Lt. Cappuccino with the limited edition GAST threads. Since this photo was taken the house has been completed, the border has been completed to both corners, alphabet is complete except for "Z" and the tree trunk and limbs are in. I have changed the color on the tree. It looked too green and then with green leaves I did not like the way it looked. I used Maple Syrup for the tree. Photo next time. Maybe done or almost done.</span><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S3zcap6Y0QI/AAAAAAAABQE/nWCUd5d6OzI/s1600-h/Jenny+Bean+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439464800442175746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 158px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S3zcap6Y0QI/AAAAAAAABQE/nWCUd5d6OzI/s200/Jenny+Bean+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">The progress on my Quaker SAL with my Kansas Stitchers Yahoo Group is hard to determine. I am still working on this craggy old tree. It is beginning to look like weeping branches of a tree. Haven't worked on this since the photo was taken. I am ready to work on another part of this design. Still have quite a bit more tree before I can get to some other part of it. Just a reminder, it is being done on 30-ct R&R Lucky Penny with a variety of silks. The tree thread is Thread Gather Silk 'n Colors Mississippi Mud and the pattern tells you to stitch thing up and down. That continues to be a challenge.</span><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S3zZ-yKcTvI/AAAAAAAABP8/f1pk975dUok/s1600-h/Quaker+Gone+Spooky+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439462122597404402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 182px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S3zZ-yKcTvI/AAAAAAAABP8/f1pk975dUok/s200/Quaker+Gone+Spooky+2.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Other stitching is the sampler for the Shop Hop that The Sunflower Seed will be a part of in late April and early May. It has several little designs with a neat border. I have one little design done, a part of another design and about half of the border. Will be alternating back and forth among these 3 projects. <p><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></p></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The crochet bug continues to bite me, so I have been doing some crocheting too. This is a baby afghan for my niece who is to have a girl at the end of February. Or so we thought. I had a text message from her a day or two ago saying it would probably be March 3 or 4th. I guess she is not done yet. Decided it had to be pink, because this is her first girl after 2 boys. (The color in my photos sometimes has a yellow cast. I think that is from taking pictures late at night in my basement.) </span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S3zYc8LwKQI/AAAAAAAABP0/Z5I7nVijDuM/s1600-h/Pink+Baby+Afghan.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439460441660074242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S3zYc8LwKQI/AAAAAAAABP0/Z5I7nVijDuM/s200/Pink+Baby+Afghan.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">My mother over the years used up her leftover yarn to make these neat diagonal potholders, but I never learned how to make them. She has been gone almost 14 years and the ones I have are wearing out. So in discussion with some of my stitching friends, I figured out how to make them and have gone crazy making them. Here are 6 I have made and there are 2 more since this photo was taken. Sometimes the combinations are not great, but they make great potholders.<br /></span><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S3zXLh4G33I/AAAAAAAABPs/ZQVy6QC1pf0/s1600-h/Pot+Holders.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439459043028950898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 137px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S3zXLh4G33I/AAAAAAAABPs/ZQVy6QC1pf0/s200/Pot+Holders.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> Yesterday was my normal day to work at The Sunflower Seed, but this week my working days have been extended. Anita left this morning for the Nashville Cash and Carry Market, so I am taking care of the shop until she returns on Tuesday. Also have Betsy, the shop dog, at my house too. Looking forward to all the goodies that Anita will bring back, as well as, hearing that she sold out of all the designs she released at market.</span><br /><br />There you go girls a blog update. Thanks to all who visit and bear with me during my lapses in blogging. You visits and comments are appreciated.<br /><br />Happy Stitching.<br /><div></span> </div><br /></span></div></div><p>Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129782982079230707noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423837799388191167.post-54764455003065650942010-01-11T10:57:00.005-06:002010-01-12T21:27:57.585-06:00Some Progress<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">With all the snow that we have had, I have been staying home stitching a lot more. Last week, beginning on Wednesday, we got another 4.4 inches of snow. So far this year we have had 25.9 inches and the average for an entire winter season is 20. We are way ahead. This time there was lots of wind like around Christmas. After the snow quit, the wind continued to blow sending wind chills waayy below zero. The schools were closed for at least 2 days, along with many offices and businesses. Various activities around town were cancelled. Since I don't like going out in the stuff or driving on snow-packed streets, etc., I have been home quite a lot. My car has been out of the garage 2 times since December 23rd. Lots of time for stitching and othe little jobs around the house. Have to admit that I have spent a lot of time on the computer playing games, doing Facebook and Yahoo groups. <p></p></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">On January 1st, I started two different projects as a part of SALs in 2 different Yahoo groups. Jenny Bean Halloween Sampler by Shakespeare Peddler was the January 1st SAL for my STO Yahoo group.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S0tgaEUv8mI/AAAAAAAABPk/Gu0yOqE-f08/s1600-h/Jenny+Bean+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425536177051529826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S0tgaEUv8mI/AAAAAAAABPk/Gu0yOqE-f08/s200/Jenny+Bean+1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Jenny Been Halloween Sampler</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">by Shakespeare Peddler</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">28-ct R&R Lt. Cappuccino</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">GAST Limited Edition Thread Pak </span></div><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">My Kansas Stitchers Yahoo group was doing Quaker Christmas by ByGone Stitches as a January 1st SAL. Since I have already stitched QC, they allowed me to use another quaker design for the SAL. I am doing Quaker Gone Spooky by Michelle Ink Designs. My start does not look like much. You will not be able to tell that what I have stitched is part of a craggy tree in a cemetery. It is stitched with Thread Gatherer's Silk 'n Colors Mississippi Mud. The instructions were to stitch it up and down instead of back and forth across like I normally stitch. It has been rather difficult to do that since one is so used to doing it the other way. Had some counting issues and had to frog out about 80 stitches. I told someone that stitching up and down is kinda like stitching in a foreign language.</span></p><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S0tfxM2e0nI/AAAAAAAABPc/VsnfBgeswm4/s1600-h/Quaker+Gone+Spooky+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425535474965860978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 188px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S0tfxM2e0nI/AAAAAAAABPc/VsnfBgeswm4/s200/Quaker+Gone+Spooky+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Quaker Gone Spooky</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">by Michelle Ink Designs</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">30-ct R&R Lucky Penny</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Various Silk Threads</span></div><p><span style="font-family:arial;">I will be doing some substituting on threads when I get to some other parts of the design. The tree is the called for Mississippi Mud from Thread Gatherer.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Here is my progress on the Retreat Sampler design by The Sunflower Seed. This is the project I started on Christmas Day since we were snowed in and did not travel as planned for the holidays. The photo makes it look like one of the houses is leaning, but it really is not. The first person across the bottom is me. I made a little change in the color of the dress to my beloved purple. The color is a little more purple than it was charted for. This has been something really fun to stitch. It is being stitched on 30-ct R&R Antique Cotton with DMC and Anchor floss.</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S0tZxY2vQ3I/AAAAAAAABPU/jSSNLwu_u5I/s1600-h/SS+Retreat+Design+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425528881118397298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 164px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S0tZxY2vQ3I/AAAAAAAABPU/jSSNLwu_u5I/s200/SS+Retreat+Design+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">The final thing that I have been rotating through during my snowed in day is LHN "Under The Prairie Moon". Since this photo was taken, I have finished this. That was accomplished about 4:30PM today. Will get it pressed and take in for framing tomorrow on my way home from the dentist. Ugh!! Hopefully I will remember to take a picture before I leave it to be framed.</span> </p><p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S0tZKwOrZbI/AAAAAAAABPM/XQQwwKFpQLA/s1600-h/Under+Prairie+Moon+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425528217377924530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 140px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/S0tZKwOrZbI/AAAAAAAABPM/XQQwwKFpQLA/s200/Under+Prairie+Moon+2.jpg" border="0" /> </a></p><p align="center">Under The Prairie Moom</p><p align="center">by Little House Needleworks</p><p align="center">30-ct R&R Irish Creme</p><p align="center">Belle Soie Silks called for</p><p align="justify">One other thing that I have been playing with is using up some leftover yarn to make crocheted potholders that when you are done, are diagonal. I have 2 done and one more started. Will include pictures later. Some of them might be fairly ugly due to the combination of miscellaneous yarns. My mom used to make them all the time and I was getting to the point that I was needing some. Now I have it all figured out, I will be making more. The church kitchen is very much in need of some good potholders. Several may find there way there.</p><p align="justify">Off to get some stitching done probably on the Spooky design. Watched my basketball team win tonight and was not able to settle down enough to stitch while watching. Now I need to get busy. Thanks to all who stopped by and those who commented. It is always fun to hear from everyone. Stay warm and out of the snow, if that is what you have in your area.<br /><br />Happy Stitching!!!!!!!!!!<br /></span></p>Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129782982079230707noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423837799388191167.post-88114748314096981112009-12-29T20:17:00.014-06:002009-12-29T23:47:34.680-06:00Snow!! Snow!! Snow!!<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">It was our turn to get dumped on by a snow storm. The weekend before Christmas it was the east coast and on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day it was the Midwest Plains States. On Wednesday it rained like it was spring with lightening and thunder, with it changing to snow on Christmas Eve Day. Snowed and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">blowed</span> all night Christmas Eve and all day Christmas. Sometimes you weren't sure how much it was snowing because it was blowing it around so much. We continued to have light snow on the day after Christmas. It is unusual for us to get this much snow at one time. The actual official measurement was between 10 -12 inches. I don't know how they were even able to measure it with it blowing around like it did. We had a few inches earlier in the month. Tonight they are predicting 1-2 inches. If we get 1 1/2 inches it will be come the snowiest December on record in Topeka.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Here are a few pictures that we took. First, a drift in the side yard.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Szq-CHgk5OI/AAAAAAAABPE/jo0-kT9t1C8/s1600-h/xmas+blizzard+09-4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420854045078512866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Szq-CHgk5OI/AAAAAAAABPE/jo0-kT9t1C8/s200/xmas+blizzard+09-4.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">A drift behind the garage where in the summer the tomato plants are growing. I wonder if snow is good fertilizer. You can see that there is a small drift on the deck. It is almost up to the bottom of the chairs.</span><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Szq9rqtkXLI/AAAAAAAABO8/OjUOPZrdQLM/s1600-h/xmas+blizzard+09-03.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420853659391253682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Szq9rqtkXLI/AAAAAAAABO8/OjUOPZrdQLM/s200/xmas+blizzard+09-03.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">A drift around the hot tub and onto the patio. Lots of snow on top of the hot tub. You can see that it was still snowing a little when these pictures were taken.</span><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Szq9RNdbWbI/AAAAAAAABO0/PDl-IDg7X38/s1600-h/xmas+blizzard+09-2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420853204862327218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Szq9RNdbWbI/AAAAAAAABO0/PDl-IDg7X38/s200/xmas+blizzard+09-2.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">My perennial flower bed out front has a big drift too. It just about covers the little light-up Christmas trees we have out there. The last two on the end are barely visible, just a little glow through the snow.<br /></span><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Szq89oJ8PNI/AAAAAAAABOs/ZQ19_RgjXQ4/s1600-h/xmas+blizzard+09-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420852868430970066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 143px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Szq89oJ8PNI/AAAAAAAABOs/ZQ19_RgjXQ4/s200/xmas+blizzard+09-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Morris made several attempts on Saturday getting the driveway shoveled out so he could get out his pick-up. I had not been out of the house since mid-afternoon on Wednesday and he had not been out since mid-afternoon on Christmas Eve, so we got out on Sunday <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">afternoon</span> and went to the mall to walk around. I think he was getting cabin fever. Needless to say, we did not make our Christmas trek to South Dakota for Christmas with his family. Based on the weather <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">forecast</span> here and for up there, we cancelled the trip on Tuesday afternoon. Mailed their Christmas present on Wednesday. They have already received them. Fast service. I went ahead and made the things that I had planned to take up there to eat. Christmas Eve we had sloppy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">joes</span> and I did a ham for Christmas dinner. I had gone ahead and bought one a few days ahead of time just in case we ended up not going. Which is what happened. By Sunday, we were both tired of eating Sloppy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Joes</span> and ham. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">LOL</span>!!! <p></p></div></span><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Enough about the nasty snow, on to stitching stuff. Now I can reveal the Christmas stitching that I have been working on the last couple of months. The first was was for Reina. I did not change anything on this one.</span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Szq8TOlMO_I/AAAAAAAABOk/Qd9Q6-vzdaQ/s1600-h/Reina"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420852140011437042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Szq8TOlMO_I/AAAAAAAABOk/Qd9Q6-vzdaQ/s200/Reina%27s+2009+Christmas+Framed.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Give Us This Day</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">by La D <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Da</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">30-ct R&R Kansas City Blend</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">GAST</span> Thread</span><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">This one was for Anita. Had to make a few color substitutions on this one. I used <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">GAST</span> Dried Thyme instead of Evergreen and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">WDW</span> Onyx instead of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">GAST</span> Black Crow. I thought I had plenty of Black Crow, but ran out and picked up another skein at the shop. It was totally different. It had lots of blue in it. The crows did not look good blue and I had to rip out everything I had already put in. Then I had to play around until I found a color that I thought looked good. Tried Mascara and Kohl, but the Onyx looked best. Someday I will learn to check how much I have and whether the latest at the shop is close to what I already have.</span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Szq7_EJXITI/AAAAAAAABOc/g62k0qbcilg/s1600-h/Anita+2009+Christmas+Framed.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420851793612972338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 151px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Szq7_EJXITI/AAAAAAAABOc/g62k0qbcilg/s200/Anita+2009+Christmas+Framed.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Crowflowers</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">by The Workbasket</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">28-ct Natural Brown Linen</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">GAST</span> Threads with changes </span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">This is an older Workbasket design. I got it when we had a trunk show from them at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">LNS</span> a year or so ago. I think the date on it is 1997. Just thought the long legs and tail feathers made it an interesting design.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Reina stitched this <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">LHN</span> design out of the 2009 JCS Ornament magazine for me. She knows how much I like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">LHN</span> designs. I love it and I don't <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">think</span> will put it away when the Christmas things get put away. It probably will be up year round. ( I did not do a very good job of photographing and cropping this one.) Sorry!!<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><div align="justify"></span></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Szq7Wtr0-CI/AAAAAAAABOU/cq-lrI_Kg9o/s1600-h/Gift+from+Reina+xmas+09.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420851100388751394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Szq7Wtr0-CI/AAAAAAAABOU/cq-lrI_Kg9o/s200/Gift+from+Reina+xmas+09.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">There is still one gift that I am stitching on. It is coming along, but has taken longer than I thought. It is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">LHN</span> "Under The Prairie Moon". Here is my progress. My brain was not thinking right, I guess, because I need just a little more Moss for the roof. What I have is lighter than what I first started with and have run out of. See there I did it again. Did not plan properly for how much was needed and the change in dye lots. It is stitched on 30-ct R&R Irish Creme with Belle <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Soie</span> silk.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">No that is not dirt on the fabric, that is just the way the over dye worked out.<br /></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Szq7A0oxKyI/AAAAAAAABOM/licJOaH9So0/s1600-h/Under+Prairie+Moon.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420850724297845538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Szq7A0oxKyI/AAAAAAAABOM/licJOaH9So0/s200/Under+Prairie+Moon.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Since we did not travel for Christmas, I decided that I would start something new on Christmas Day. I went looking around to see what had fabric and thread already. I came across this design that Anita did for all of us at our last weekend retreat. She included 30-ct R&R Antique Cotton with the design and it used <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">DMC</span> thread. I substituted my Anchor floss for most colors, but was missing a few so have some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">DMC</span> as well. Across the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">bottom</span> is a little figure for each of us charted in our favorite color, with proper hair color and our initials. It will mean a lot when it is done. The verse is "Our lives are but a tapestry".</span><br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Szq6k7WIcaI/AAAAAAAABOE/VJkU9jYvfIY/s1600-h/SS+Fall+Retreat+09+Pattern.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420850245062390178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 174px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Szq6k7WIcaI/AAAAAAAABOE/VJkU9jYvfIY/s200/SS+Fall+Retreat+09+Pattern.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Here is my progress. Since this photo was taken, I have done one more house, finished the word "Topeka" and done the first figure without feet. That figure is mine and my dress is purple and my hair is silver gray like it is in real life.</span><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Szq6I6XWJPI/AAAAAAAABN8/2ERcOXZ4Avw/s1600-h/IMGP1280.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420849763762709746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Szq6I6XWJPI/AAAAAAAABN8/2ERcOXZ4Avw/s200/IMGP1280.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">With all the snow and cold, I have not been going too many places. Actually the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">furthest</span> I have gone since Sunday is to the end of the driveway to the mailbox. Been alternating between Prairie Moon, Sunflower <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Stitchers</span> and a small design model for the Sunflower Seed.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Two of the Yahoo groups that I am in are planning January 1st start projects. The Kansas <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Stitcher</span> group is going to do a SAL for A Quaker Christmas by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">ByGone</span> Stitches. Since I have already done that one, I am going to do Quaker Gone Spooky by Michelle Ink. I will be using 30-ct R&R Lucky Penny with part of the silk called for. I am using Silk 'n Colors instead of Prairie Winter and Belle <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Soie</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Noir</span> instead of Silk 'n Colors Fading Ink. My hands have been itching to stitch this. Now the first is not far off.</span></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Szq5CXTxB3I/AAAAAAAABN0/wZfX8ROqN8A/s1600-h/Quaker+SAL+1-1-10.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420848551761610610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 143px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Szq5CXTxB3I/AAAAAAAABN0/wZfX8ROqN8A/s200/Quaker+SAL+1-1-10.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">My <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">STO</span> Yahoo group is having January 1st SAL of your choice of designs. This group did this last year too and everyone really enjoyed watching each other's projects come to life. I think that most everyone finished their projects at some point during the year. It is good motivation when you have a group doing something like this. For this SAL I am going to do Shakespeare's Peddler's Jenny Bean's Halloween Sampler using the limited edition <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">GAST</span> threads that were developed for this design on 28-ct R&R Lt. Cappuccino. The thread names for this are rather ghoulish.</span><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Szq4pMdwT8I/AAAAAAAABNs/qSgmFc1x-HY/s1600-h/jan+1st+project.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420848119353987010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 146px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Szq4pMdwT8I/AAAAAAAABNs/qSgmFc1x-HY/s200/jan+1st+project.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Thanks to all the continue to read and comment on my blog. I post rather infrequently, but when I do it is a lot Don't see that changing any time soon. You comments are very much appreciated. Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I don't know who it was that wanted a "White Christmas", but I thin they got more than they bargained for around here.</span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"><div align="justify"><br /></div></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">It is hard to believe that another year is just about here. Time flies when you are having fun stitching all the time. Here's wishing you a Happy and Prosperous New Year to all.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Happy Stitching!!!!!!!!!!!!</span></div></div><br /></span>Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129782982079230707noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423837799388191167.post-28618652151895396232009-12-17T23:13:00.013-06:002009-12-18T14:05:47.697-06:00After All This Time.....Still Stitching<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Here goes nothing. All my friends have been screaming at me because I have not done a post recently. Things just keep getting in the way. We got back from Branson and have been dealing with some issues with my Dad and trying to finish the Christmas stitching. The time just keeps flying by. One day it is just before Thanksgiving and now Christmas is a week ago. Where does the time go? <p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">We had a great time in Branson, eating, going to shows, shopping and just generally relaxing. I even did get some stitching done. For the first 3 days, we were joined by friends Martin and Mary. We ate at the normal places we go every year and actually ate at the timeshare a couple of times too. The shows we saw with them were "The Haygoods" and "The Baldknobbers". The Baldknobbers were the first show in Branson and this was their 50th year. On Sunday we ate at the College of the Ozarks Sunday Buffet. Such good food and so much of it. It was a joy. My sister that lives close by came down on Tuesday and basically stitched all day with me. That was fun. Made it to the LNS Cecilia's Samplers twice. One day with Mary and once with my sister. Had to buy a few things. Not that I needed anything, but Anchor floss. When you work in a LNS you rarely need anything. <p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Here is a photo of Muffin lounging around the timeshare one evening. Her and Morris were watching TV in the bedroom this night. We have been going down here around 8 years and this is only the second year that they allowed us to take Muffin along. She loves it and loves to travel. Morris took her for at least one walk each day.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SysUww1qs6I/AAAAAAAABNk/7QeufNLGbWI/s1600-h/IMGP1217.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416445804819428258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SysUww1qs6I/AAAAAAAABNk/7QeufNLGbWI/s200/IMGP1217.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">On Friday we went to the Pierce Arrow show. This was a freebie for listening to the timeshare people try to sell us another week. The Pierce Arrow Theatre had a BIG Christmas wreath in front and here is a photo of Morris in the wreath. It was night and there was not much light on him. He is hard to see in the picture.</span></div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SysTagJYbiI/AAAAAAAABNM/g78m8pPUzTY/s1600-h/IMGP1237.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416444322869964322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SysTagJYbiI/AAAAAAAABNM/g78m8pPUzTY/s200/IMGP1237.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">One of the design models that I have been working on has been released by The Sunflower Seed. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Celtic Christmas Tree is done on 30-ct R&R Antique Cotton with Thread Gatherer Silk 'n Cotton In the Burgundy and Rainbow Gallery Petite Treasure Braid. Anita has also set up a <a href="http://thesunflowerseed.blogspot.com/">blog</a></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SysS4ZzLL7I/AAAAAAAABNE/qo2950EW2u4/s1600-h/Celtic+Christrmas+Tree.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416443737050656690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SysS4ZzLL7I/AAAAAAAABNE/qo2950EW2u4/s200/Celtic+Christrmas+Tree.jpg" border="0" /></a> Most of the stitching that I have been doing is for Christmas and I cannot show it yet. I think I will be giving it away next Tuesday. Talked to the frame shop today and one piece is done and the other will be done for me by Tuesday. Nothing like getting it in under the wire. Photos later. I still have one piece to finish, but I did not get hers done last year on time, so I guess by now she will be used to it. Probably will not get to exchange gifts with her until after Christmas any way.<br /><br />Remember we talking about the baby sampler that I was working on and had been having problems with from the beginning. Well, I have done some work on it over the last few weeks. Especially since now I know that my niece is going to have another baby and I need to do another one. The first picture is of the sampler the last time I took a photo. The second photo is where it is today. There has been quite a bit of progress, but lots of color changes and there is lots of back stitching to do later. The color of the fabric is way different from photo to photo. The fabric is 28-ct Lambswool linen.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SysSnrSAeYI/AAAAAAAABM8/Dg6OTUhcgss/s1600-h/Cameron+Sampler2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416443449685604738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 127px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SysSnrSAeYI/AAAAAAAABM8/Dg6OTUhcgss/s200/Cameron+Sampler2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SysSXr_ZdVI/AAAAAAAABM0/FduHmC0gQ5w/s1600-h/Megan+Baby+Sampler+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416443174998078802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 154px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SysSXr_ZdVI/AAAAAAAABM0/FduHmC0gQ5w/s200/Megan+Baby+Sampler+3.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here is a photo of the design for the next baby sampler for my niece. It is a girl this time and I have loved this design since it came out. Pulled photo from the Hoffman Distributing web site. Have the pattern, but not started yet. The model is stitched in silk, so now you know another reason why I liked it.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SysRy7TabEI/AAAAAAAABMs/LW17614zzGc/s1600-h/Sweet+Baby+Sampler+Pattern.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416442543453400130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 162px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SysRy7TabEI/AAAAAAAABMs/LW17614zzGc/s200/Sweet+Baby+Sampler+Pattern.jpg" border="0" /></a> Several years ago I stitched the piece below, but never finished it. Recently I needed a gift for a friend so I finished it. Turned out very nice.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SysRrTKBWhI/AAAAAAAABMk/u-Y760f_3_A/s1600-h/Stitcher"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416442412417505810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 122px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SysRrTKBWhI/AAAAAAAABMk/u-Y760f_3_A/s200/Stitcher%27s+Gift+2009.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> Merry Christmas to My Friend</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">By Carriage House Samplings</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">28-ct Dirty Cashel linen</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">WDW and Sampler Threads</span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><div align="justify"><br />Now I will show you gifts that I received from friends. Perforated paper Santa. I just love this. So cute. The other is a 3-dimensional gingerbread house. I have shown the back and the front of the house. Lots of beads on this too. My friend has made several of these this year. They are so cute too. I think the pattern was in a magazine several years ago.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SysQnuM6awI/AAAAAAAABMc/WsIHjngipOQ/s1600-h/Perf+Santa+Gift+2009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416441251446287106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 141px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SysQnuM6awI/AAAAAAAABMc/WsIHjngipOQ/s200/Perf+Santa+Gift+2009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SysQXpZv93I/AAAAAAAABMU/rXWiSYaS7VU/s1600-h/Gingerbread+House+Front.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416440975280043890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 190px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SysQXpZv93I/AAAAAAAABMU/rXWiSYaS7VU/s200/Gingerbread+House+Front.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SysQEgeHW0I/AAAAAAAABMM/MJ_KVsCHwpU/s1600-h/Gingerbread+House+Back.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416440646464920386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 168px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SysQEgeHW0I/AAAAAAAABMM/MJ_KVsCHwpU/s200/Gingerbread+House+Back.jpg" border="0" /></a>I have really thrown this together rather quickly. Loaded the photos last night and doing the narrative this afternoon before we go to by Dad's. He had a pacemaker put in just before Thanksgiving and has recently had a bout with the nose bleed that they have trouble getting stopped. He does not like to stay with any of us girls, so he is staying along at his house again. We have several services coming in during the week, but us girls are going to try to take turns being there almost every weekend and see how that goes. <p></p></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Next week we will go to Morris's family in South Dakota, weather permitting, for Christmas. Been making all kinds of preparations of food for various Christmas get together and to take to both my Dad and up to SD. <p></p></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Morris home from work and packing things up, so I better end this now. Thank you to all that visit and comment. The comments mean so much. I try to get caught up on blog reading, but I don't think that I will ever be caught up. <p></p></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#cc0000;">Merry Christmas To All.</span></div><span style="color:#cc0000;"></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"></span><div align="justify"><span style="color:#000000;">Happy Stitching</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><br /></div><br /></span></span>Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129782982079230707noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423837799388191167.post-81861385501919808612009-11-20T23:38:00.002-06:002009-11-20T23:52:54.695-06:00It Did Not Happen<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">My plan was to do a blog today, before we leave for a week in Branson. Well, it did not happen. Was too busy getting things ready to go. You would think I was leaving the country the way that we pack up things. All I really want to do when we are down there is stitch. However, we will do a couple of shows and some shopping. <p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I have been stitching, but most of it is Christmas gifts or Sunflower Seed design models, so no photos yet. Two of the Sunflower Seed designs that I stitched are almost ready to be released. By the time I get back from Branson, I should be able to show them here. Also, did some work on the overdue baby sampler. Was going to show you how much progress I have made since the last photo taken several months ago. <p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Before I forget Anita at The Sunflower Seed now has a blog. She is loving it. You can visit it <a href="http://thesunflowerseed.blogspot.com/">here.</a> <p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Apparently the crud and cough I have been battling was allergy related. Much better and don't have much of a cough. The only thing different the did was give me a sample of a nasal spray. My dad is still battling his cough. Turns out it related to congestive heart failure and fluid retention because the heart was not working properly. He is back in the hospital and last evening they installed a pacemaker. According to e-mails received from my sister and a cousin he is much better and should go home tomorrow. <p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify">Thanks to everyone that takes the time to visit my little space in cyberland. Your visits and comments are very much appreciated. <p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify">Now off to finish packing things up. Stitching is packed, just have to pack my Ott-Lite. My youngest sister lives a short distance from Branson and she is coming down to spend a day with me and stitch. Looking forward to that. <p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Happy Thanksgiving to all.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Happy Stitching.</span></div><br /></span></span></span></span>Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129782982079230707noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423837799388191167.post-1543106650570887002009-10-30T23:16:00.008-05:002009-10-31T00:29:28.368-05:00As Time Goes By<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">It seems that I just keep singing the same tune, different verse about time flying by. It seems just yesterday that we turned the calendar over to October and now we are ready to turn it over to November. My blogging time as been limited. When I have had time, I would rather use it for stitching. The last time you heard from me I had left my Dad in the hospital with his upper respiratory issue possibly pneumonia. He ended up spending 12 days in the hospital and 12 days with my sister after he was dismissed. He even missed the cousins reunion held in the town that he lives and he is the only living member of his generation. It was hard for him to miss, but he knew that he was better off staying away from a lot of people. Earlier this week, I spent 2 days with him to take him for a follow-up visit to the doctor. Both my sisters had other commitments at the last minute, so I was free to go and take care of things. He is very much improved, but still has his cough. They changed some of his meds and when I left him on Tuesday, he cough was better. <p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Wish I could say the same for myself. I have had some kind of crud for about 2 weeks. Mostly chest congestion and cough. I have gone through a lot of cough drops, prescription cough syrup and some over-the-counter cough syrup. Still coughing!!!!!!!! I have an appointment for my annual check-up next week. Maybe I can get something then. I even did not go to the KSU football game last Saturday due to my cough. I was afraid that those around me would think I had H1N!, so I stayed home. Anita at the LNS has had a cold, etc.. She missed a couple of days in the shop because of it. Otherwise we both have just drug ourselves around to do the things that we needed to do. <p></p></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">There has been some stitching going on around here. I finished a Christmas design model for The Sunflower Seed. It is at the framer. I finished my 2009 PS Hockey Santa and was slow in getting a blog done, that he is back from the framer already.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">This photo is not very good. I thought I had 2 on the camera, but this is the only one that was downloaded.</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Suu8hwtmI9I/AAAAAAAABME/lVXdelcTsuQ/s1600-h/PS+2009+Santa+Framed.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398615866531521490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 198px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Suu8hwtmI9I/AAAAAAAABME/lVXdelcTsuQ/s200/PS+2009+Santa+Framed.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">2009 PS Hockey Santa</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">20-ct Natural Brown Linen over 1</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">DMC threads</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">This is the first time that I have done a PS Santa in the same year that it came out. Amazing!!! <p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">One of my friends was looking at the JCS 2009 Ornament Magazine and saw this ornament by Sue Hillis that she really liked. I stitched it up and gave it to her for her birthday last week. She loved it. She is a quilter and sewer, so I left it for her to finish. It is missing the buttons that were on the magazine model. I gave her a couple of pearl-like buttons from my collection and she was going to add the rest from her collection. It was stitched with the called for threads and fabric. The only changes I made were that I stitched most of the things that it called to be done with one thread with 2 threads. One thread did not show up very well. This photo is a little wonky because I used my scanner to take the photo. It looks like it is overdyed fabric, but it is not. Again this is a first for me, I did an ornament out of the magazine in the same year that the magazine came out.</span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Suu8QqxeeOI/AAAAAAAABL8/HYTuhbDDJRQ/s1600-h/JCS+Peace+Ornament+w+Beads.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398615572879407330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 156px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Suu8QqxeeOI/AAAAAAAABL8/HYTuhbDDJRQ/s200/JCS+Peace+Ornament+w+Beads.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">I am still stitching some of the BBD Stockings. This is Wild Sunflower House out of the August booklet. Actually, I am a lot closer to being done right now. This is an old scan. This one came out better than the above ornament.</span><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Suu8C9e9yPI/AAAAAAAABL0/kC-8mUl76mw/s1600-h/Wild+Sunflower+House+Stocking.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398615337383872754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 136px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Suu8C9e9yPI/AAAAAAAABL0/kC-8mUl76mw/s200/Wild+Sunflower+House+Stocking.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">I have started work on one of the Christmas presents that I have planned. No photos until after presents are given. I have plans to do 2 other gifts, but they are not started, just kitted up. With the calendar changing to November, I am getting a little concerned as to whether they will all get done. Since my last post, my niece has announced that she is pregnant and I don't have the sampler done for her son that is 16-months old. It has been a hard stitch, but I have pulled it out again and worked on it while I was at my Dad's. Found out last week that it is a girl, so I have the design picked out for the sampler. Forgot to get a copy of the design for this blog, so it will have to wait for next time.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">After Anita got back from market at the end of September, I had to do a little stashing. My requests for her to bring back for me was Shakespeare's Peddler's "Jenny Bean- Halloween Sampler". She got that for me plus the thread packet, Pin Tuffet pattern and these Dinky Dye scissors.<br /></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Suu72IOf7aI/AAAAAAAABLs/ahUN51Eiyag/s1600-h/Market+Stash.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398615116929297826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 124px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Suu72IOf7aI/AAAAAAAABLs/ahUN51Eiyag/s200/Market+Stash.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Other stashing in this photo includes:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Blackbird Designs - Midnight Watch</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Midnight Stitching - Quaker Welcome</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The Primitive Needle - The Witching Hour</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Also I got, but is not in the photo Michele Ink's Quaker Gone Spooky and Cherished Stitches - A Quaker Halloween Sampler. It seems that I have been on Halloween overload on patterns. I don't know what the deal is with that. Anita and I were talking about that today and we have decided it is the colors of the designs that really interest us.</span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Suu7d8p9-4I/AAAAAAAABLk/9GIDKTumdLc/s1600-h/Dinky+Dye+Scissors.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398614701506427778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 155px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Suu7d8p9-4I/AAAAAAAABLk/9GIDKTumdLc/s200/Dinky+Dye+Scissors.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> Dinky Dye Scissors</span></p><span style="font-family:arial;"><p align="justify">Back the middle of September when my friend Sandi and I went to the Kansas State Fair, we did some shopping on the way home. I bought this Jelly Roll, a pattern and lining fabric to make bags. This jelly roll and 1 yard of lining fabric is supposed to make 2 bags. The bag body uses 8 strips sewn together and more strips for pockets inside and the handles. I had thought by now I would have had some work done on this, but not yet. I think once I start, it won't take long and I won't want to put it down until it is done.<br /></p><p align="justify"></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Suu7N_6M0xI/AAAAAAAABLc/Ifel26ujVYA/s1600-h/Jelly+Roll+Fabric.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398614427501908754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 151px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Suu7N_6M0xI/AAAAAAAABLc/Ifel26ujVYA/s200/Jelly+Roll+Fabric.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I have continued to do some crocheting when I have had to travel somewhere. Obviously, when I was not doing the driving. Below is another finished prayer shawl for the church. It was given to a friend of mine in the church that had a hysterectomy last week. At the beginning of October, I donated 2 crocheted dish cloths to go in a couple of baskets for an auction to benefit the Church Camp run by my church denomination. I have a small start on the next prayer shawl and a baby afghan for a person in Morris's office that we have done things with. Pictures of those later. A couple of days when I felt the worst from my cough and chest congestion, all I felt like doing was crocheting. My patterns are simple and rather mindless. It was easier on the brain than cross stitch.</span><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Suu6tNt2MfI/AAAAAAAABLU/40J-pNdIpUA/s1600-h/Buff+Prayer+Shawl.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398613864272507378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Suu6tNt2MfI/AAAAAAAABLU/40J-pNdIpUA/s200/Buff+Prayer+Shawl.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This weekend is going to be a busy one. Sunday the church is doing a soup and dessert lunch after church. This morning I made a double batch of my Taco Soup and baked a cake. Still need to make another batch of Taco Soup and add the pudding, pineapple and Cool Whip topping to the cake. Tomorrow some members of one of my Yahoo Groups are getting together to stitch, a lady in my church is having an auction of her doll collection and I promised her I would show up as support, we have been invited to friends to celebrate Halloween in the evening. These friends get lots of "Trick or Treaters" and I guess it is fun to see. Made an apple crisp tonight to take over there. All this cooking has left no time for stitching.</p><p align="justify">Oh, I almost forgot. Anita at <a href="http://www.thesunflowerseed.blogspot.com/">The Sunflower Seed </a>has decided to do a blog. So I spent some time with her today showing her what little I know about loading pictures, etc. A while back I set her blog up and now she has decorated it up some and made one post. Today she was working on another post. Working with her on her blog has led me to try to dress up my blog. Have been looking for a free template that I like. Most are too busy and not the right color. I would like something that has purple in it to go along with my name. Guess I will leave it the way it is for the time being. It's hard to think about making template changes when I cannot even find the time to do posts.<br /><br />Thank you to everyone who has stayed with me through the lean times of my posting. You are all very special to me. Your comments keep me going. Thanks so much. Hang in there. Who knows, I might get back into doing this more often. The best friends are stitching friends.</p><p align="justify">Happy Stitching!!!!!!!!!!!<br /><br /></p></span></span></span>Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129782982079230707noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423837799388191167.post-35499284089147231722009-10-02T23:42:00.005-05:002009-10-03T00:09:56.169-05:00Way Behind<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">OMG, where does the time go? I had hoped I would have done a report on our retreat weekend and stitching progress by now. It just has not happened. The photos have not even been downloaded from the camera. Things have just gotten in the way. After the retreat, I worked at the shop for 3 days while Anita was gone to market. Oh, and she brought back some wonderful things. Went to two Royals baseball games in one weekend and helped my church celebrate their 100th Anniversary. Then this week I spent 2 days with my dad. He had gotten a cold and upper respiratory infection. Ended up putting him in the hospital and as of tonight he is still there. Yesterday they told me it was not pneumonia, but tonight my sister said they did another chest x-ray and saw something. He is very prone to pneumonia and he is in the best place for them to take care of it.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Still trying to get some stitching done. Here is a stocking from Blackbird Designs "Tis Halloween" pattern book. -- Deadly Nightshade. Stitched on the called for fabric with the called for threads. I finished this at the retreat. </span></div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SsbXSIkLaeI/AAAAAAAABLM/B3zoahA1sKU/s1600-h/Night+Shade+Stocking.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388230710732220898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 147px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SsbXSIkLaeI/AAAAAAAABLM/B3zoahA1sKU/s200/Night+Shade+Stocking.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">I love stitching these stocking. I have one out of the August booklet started, but no photo. Next time.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Here is my progress on the PS 2009 Santa. He is done over one on 20-ct Natural Brown linen with the called for DMC threads. Since this scan was taken, he has a head and more of the hockey stick is done. Seems like there is more done also, but I cannot remember what it is and I am too lazy to get up and go see what it is. Tried working on this at the retreat, but ended up ripping out as much as I put in. One of the others at the retreat was having problems with some over one stuff. We decided it was either the lighting or we were just in a over one funk. LOL!!</span></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SsbW-2kfyHI/AAAAAAAABLE/8aXIuOHbjTc/s1600-h/PS+2009+Santa.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388230379484203122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 171px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SsbW-2kfyHI/AAAAAAAABLE/8aXIuOHbjTc/s200/PS+2009+Santa.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Although Anita had everything at the shop on Monday that she brought back from market, I did not have a chance to look at it in depth. Today, I took time to go look at things and I wanted it all. I had sent a request with her for Shakespeare's Peddler's Jenny Been Sampler and some Dinky Dye scissors. She brought both back for me. Was going to have pictures, but it did not happen. Helped her move the Mill Hill bead display while I was there. Tomorrow a group from my Kansas Stitchers Yahoo Group is coming to Topeka for a stitch-in. This time I am actually going to get to join them. They have been getting together almost monthly for some time and I not been able to join in. Looking forward to it.</span></div><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Thank you to all my loyal readers for sticking with me even when it is a long time between blogs. Your comments are very much appreciated. For those blogs that I read, I am way behind again. Between working and playing, I have not had much time for them lately. When I have had time, I have wanted to spend it stitching. So the blogs in my Google Reader is back over 200. I had gotten it down below 100 a few weeks ago.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Off to get my stitch bag prepared for tomorrow. Knock on wood, but this post has gone rather smooth. I better hit "publish" quickly before it decides to be onery.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Happy Stitching!!!</span></p><p align="justify"> </p>Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129782982079230707noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423837799388191167.post-62468667872375754612009-09-11T23:51:00.011-05:002009-09-12T01:11:53.267-05:00Model Stitching and Stuff<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Did you hear my partial sigh of relief? I was in the middle of uploading pictures and trying to read blogs at the same time and had crisis. One of the blogs I opened just kept opening new windows in Internet Explorer no matter how fast I closed them. There were at least 6 windows open and I could not close them. Internet Explorer shut itself down. That is after I had 7 pictures uploaded. Once I went back into blogger the Auto Save had saved my work. Now I am editing my blog. LOL!! Had not done any narrative, was still loading pictures. I will do the remainder of the sigh of relief when I get this completed. <p></p></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">As you know, I do lots of model stitching for The Sunflower Seed. I cannot show what I have been stitching on until the designs are released. Two were released today on Hoffman. The first is very appropriate to be released on 9/11. It is stitched on 30-ct R&R Creek Bed Brown with GAST threads.</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SqswuJivGeI/AAAAAAAABK8/MA1qM77-nt8/s1600-h/Proud+and+Free.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380447749217917410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 130px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SqswuJivGeI/AAAAAAAABK8/MA1qM77-nt8/s200/Proud+and+Free.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> Proud and Free</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">by The Sunflower Seed</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The next one is a Halloween design done on 30-ct R&R Spellbound Green with WDW thread. Anita did the backstitching and the beads, my two least favorite things to do.</span></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SqswNSb0_KI/AAAAAAAABK0/NENQYxgjsuY/s1600-h/Spiders+and+Bats.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380447184669179042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 181px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SqswNSb0_KI/AAAAAAAABK0/NENQYxgjsuY/s200/Spiders+and+Bats.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> Spiders and Bats, Oh, My!!!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">by The Sunflower Seed</span></div><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">On Wednesday, I delivered another completed design to Anita and yesterday while I was working, she brought in another one that I have since gotten a little start on.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Before we made our trip to California, I finished one of the stockings from Blackbird Designs Halloween stockings book. It is done on the called for fabric with the called for thread. I have another one started. Have done a little work on the Wedding Ring one too. Hard to believe, but I did not do any stitching on our trip. On the way home, I actually put all of my stitching in my checked bag. Seems like there is less room on the planes to do stitching and during our layover on the way out, I played on my Acer computer. It is so much fun. Used it some while we were in California, but I did not keep up with blogs like I thought I would. Did keep ahead of the e-mails, but not the blogs or my Yahoo groups.</span></p><p align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SqsvvsE0i6I/AAAAAAAABKs/HiQihGMRDr4/s1600-h/Candy+Corn+Stocking.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380446676155927458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 126px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SqsvvsE0i6I/AAAAAAAABKs/HiQihGMRDr4/s200/Candy+Corn+Stocking.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Previously I mentioned that I stitched something to take to our friends in California, but forget to take pictures before I took it to be framed. Picked up the day before we left. Turns out Betsy was actually born in Kansas, so she got the connection of taking her Sunflowers from Kansas. For those of you who don't know -- Sunflower is the Kansas state flower</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SqssFxrxZ1I/AAAAAAAABKk/0_fvEANE80o/s1600-h/Betsy"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380442657572087634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 194px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SqssFxrxZ1I/AAAAAAAABKk/0_fvEANE80o/s200/Betsy%27s+Sunflower+Sampler.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Sunflower Sampler</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Cottage House Needleworks</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">28-ct Raw Natural Linen with called for threads</span></p><p align="left"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Here are a few pictures from our California trip<br /></span><br /></p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SqsrlPs-0bI/AAAAAAAABKc/XhST1EMOGtY/s1600-h/AT&T+Park+8-09.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380442098694541746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SqsrlPs-0bI/AAAAAAAABKc/XhST1EMOGtY/s200/AT%26T+Park+8-09.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Entrance to A T & T Park</span></p><span style="font-family:arial;"><p align="justify">Saw SF Giants beat Colorado Rockies. It was hot the day we were in SF, probably 96 degrees.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The next day we went to Yosemite National Park. Saw 2 fires and had to take a couple of detours around them. Here are a couple of pictures of the giant Sequoia trees.</span></p><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SqsrBhSgJiI/AAAAAAAABKU/X2OkMow8dQk/s1600-h/Giant+Sequoia+Tree+Trunk.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380441484940027426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SqsrBhSgJiI/AAAAAAAABKU/X2OkMow8dQk/s200/Giant+Sequoia+Tree+Trunk.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SqsqWL52lpI/AAAAAAAABKM/5nTU46RClo4/s1600-h/Walk+Through+Tree.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380440740465120914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SqsqWL52lpI/AAAAAAAABKM/5nTU46RClo4/s200/Walk+Through+Tree.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">The last day we drove down to Monterrey and Carmel. Lovely beautiful drive. We did the 17-mile drive through all the golf courses, etc. Stopped for a snack at Hog's Breath Inn, once owned by Clint Eastwood.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sqsp7LBCtuI/AAAAAAAABKE/4GefhiX2800/s1600-h/Monterrey+Penesula.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380440276370372322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sqsp7LBCtuI/AAAAAAAABKE/4GefhiX2800/s200/Monterrey+Penesula.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SqspiuX-4lI/AAAAAAAABJ8/RO_Phf5JhYE/s1600-h/Lone+Pine.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380439856365101650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SqspiuX-4lI/AAAAAAAABJ8/RO_Phf5JhYE/s200/Lone+Pine.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Lone Pine</span> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">A week or so before we went to California my sisters and I, along with all the grandkids and great-grandkids went to my Dad's to celebrate his 89th birthday. We took all the food for a big lunch along with cake and homemade ice cream. We did not leave him much ice cream. Here is a photo of my dad and his 4 great-grandchildren ages 7, 5, 2 and 1.</span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SqspMN0z15I/AAAAAAAABJ0/-R_1NljScaI/s1600-h/GrGrandpa+with+kids+8-16-09.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380439469670520722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SqspMN0z15I/AAAAAAAABJ0/-R_1NljScaI/s200/GrGrandpa+with+kids+8-16-09.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Well, I am almost done and things have not crashed yet. Better wrap this up before they do. Tomorrow (Saturday), I am helping serve a funeral dinner at the church for about 150. Monday, one of my best friends and I are headed to the State Fair. We are both retired and decided this is something we wanted to do. Neither of us have been for many years. We are really looking forward to it. We will spend the night, since it is about 3 hours away and then meander ourselves back home the next day stopping at various shopping opportunities along the way. <p></p></div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><span style="font-family:Arial;">Next weekend is our next stitching retreat. We are all ready for our fun weekend. Should have a report on that the next time. Things have been so hectic since the last one in the spring, I never did do a post devoted to all the hilarity that goes on when we have our retreats. I promise to do better this time. <p></p></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Thanks for all of your patience with me and my sporadic blogging. I won't even promise to do better, because I am not sure that I could live up to my promises. Thanks to all that do stop by and comment. I am still trying to keep ahead of all the blogs in my Google Reader, but I am still behind. Someday, maybe. Still make comments now and then. I have seen some awesome stitching out there. Many of you are really fast stitchers. It really amazes me. I must be retarded because I stitch much slower than many of you. Keep up the good work.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><p></p><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Happy Stitching!!!!!!!! <p></p>(Sign of Relief) Going to push the publish button.<br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><p></p><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">P.S. JCS Ornament Magazine 2009 is out. Lots of good stuff.</span><br /><div align="justify"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><br /></div><br /></span></span></span></span></span><br /></span>Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129782982079230707noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423837799388191167.post-85880149829596854252009-08-24T00:01:00.004-05:002009-08-24T00:48:30.777-05:00Quick Update<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">It will probably come as a big surprise to my regular readers and my local stitching friends, but this is going to be a quick post. (hopefully) My plans were to take some more pictures tomorrow in the daylight and include more up to date photos of stitching. Got a call from Anita, owner of LNS-The Sunflower Seed and she was not feeling well, so I am working at the shop tomorrow. Not much else on the agenda, so it is not a problem. Just refocus on some other things.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">First of all, I picked up my LHN - From Sea to Shining Sea from the framers about a week ago. Here is the final product. I love it.</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SpIg-RTns5I/AAAAAAAABJs/t97v1hel9m4/s1600-h/From+Sea+Framed.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373393559576097682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 119px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SpIg-RTns5I/AAAAAAAABJs/t97v1hel9m4/s200/From+Sea+Framed.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">In one of my small Yahoo groups, we had an online retreat last weekend. Last year they had a retreat in Kansas City with several of the group attending. That was just after I joined the group, so I did not participate. I think I had a football game that weekend. Since the group is very diverse in where they are located, the moderators decided to have an online retreat. The group has several designers in it. Two of them designed retreat pieces. One was 2 Quaker Acorns. The other was a floral needlework. Other things included with the retreat was bingo, recipes and lots of chatting. It was hard to keep up with the stitching and the chatting at the same time. It is easier in person to talk and stitch, but when you have to be on the computer to chat, then you cannot stitch. On top of that I was gone the better part of Sunday for my Dad's birthday party. More on that at a later time. I do have a couple of pictures of that to share.</span></div><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I did manage to finish one of the Quaker Acorns. The thread is Thread Gather Silk 'n Colors Crimson Wood on 32-ct Lambswool linen. I thought it was 28 when I picked it out, but the longer I stitched I figured out it was 32-ct. Oh, well. Now to get the other one done sometime. I am putting them on the same piece of fabric vertically and have requested the designer do another one so I can turn it into a bell pull. Marianne are you listening!!!</span></p><p align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SpIgC8oqhAI/AAAAAAAABJk/mGxQNztvghY/s1600-h/Squireel+Quaker+Acorn+Finished.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373392540414936066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 165px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SpIgC8oqhAI/AAAAAAAABJk/mGxQNztvghY/s200/Squireel+Quaker+Acorn+Finished.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">It seems that I am almost as addicted to the Blackbird Designs Stockings as I am to silk floss. Here is my start on "Here Comes The Bride" from the June leaflet. There is quite a bit more done since this photo was taken. Wedding Ring is one of my favorite quilt pattens. It is done on R&R 30-ct Korty's Special Blend using CC-Antique Lace and Cheryl Chic and DMC 712. Not much color change in the two off white colors.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SpIfgPKJImI/AAAAAAAABJc/t8O3rUig6qc/s1600-h/Wedding+Ring+Stocking.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373391944091771490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 182px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SpIfgPKJImI/AAAAAAAABJc/t8O3rUig6qc/s200/Wedding+Ring+Stocking.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Last Friday, while at the LNS the Blackbird Designs Halloween Stocking leaflet came in. Anita and I worked to cut fabric from the various called for colors. They are all so cute. I want to stitch them all. </span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Saturday, one of the Monday stitchers, invited us all to stitch at her house after the LNS closed at 3 and we stitched til around 10. Good food, great laughs and much stitching what a great combination. So Friday night I got the "Candy Corn" stocking barely started and stitched on it at our get together. Did have a few complications. Left most of my thread at home. Had to stop by the LNS for WDW-Carrot and I used some of Anita's GAST Butternut Squash. Then when I got home, I figured out that about 4 of my corn pieces were off by one thread. So I spend part of last night ripping and re-stitching. Hopefully, I will have it done the next time I post.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>MUFFIN UPDATE : </strong>She did not have her scheduled surgery. Her blood work showed some problems that they spent all day with more tests and blood work to diagnose. This is the second time she could not pass her tests for surgery. I think she is does this on purpose so she does not have to have the surgery. She was, however, diagnosed with Cushing's Disease, which is a treatable, but not curable. Basically her body produces too much steroid and the pituitary gland that is supposed to shut it off, does not do it. The vet says that there is probably a very, very small tumor on her pituitary gland that prevents it from functioning properly. He told me that we don't do brain surgery on dogs. I read that same thing online. Now we are giving her some type of liquid medicine twice a day for 3 days and then in a week or so they will run blood tests to see if the meds are doing what they are supposed to. After 2 doses, she is taking it like a trooper. Don't know how cooperative she will be in the future. The meds are supposed to be liver-flavored, but it does not really smell that good.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Thursday we leave for out trip to California. Looking forward to it and have lots to take care of in the next few days. Probably no more updates until I return. Will be taking my new Acer computer with me and hope to try to keep up with e-mails and not get to far behind on blog reading.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Sometimes, I forget to thank all those who stop in to see what is going on in my world. Your comments are what keeps me going on this blog thing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;">Happy Stitching</span></p><p> </p>Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129782982079230707noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423837799388191167.post-69808714539182282542009-08-08T00:11:00.008-05:002009-08-08T01:28:23.997-05:00I' m Still Here.....<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">When I last posted, I had just started "Bountiful Stars" from the Blackbird Designs July Stocking. Here it is finished stitching. I did all but part of one star in a little over a day. Ran out of the blue silk and had to order more and that took a week. I like my color choices better than the model. It looks for Americana. I used Belle Soie silk (surprise) Cranberry and Blue Lagoon on 30-ct Korty's Special Blend.</span></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sn0QDz6F7wI/AAAAAAAABJU/e7b8YhtMT9U/s1600-h/Bountiful+Stars+Stocking.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367463988555017986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 176px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sn0QDz6F7wI/AAAAAAAABJU/e7b8YhtMT9U/s200/Bountiful+Stars+Stocking.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Later this month Morris and I are going to visit friends in San Jose, California. At the semi-last moment, I decided I needed to stitch something to take to Betsy. Looked for something that I thought she would like that would not take too long. Ended up doing "Sunflower Sampler" by Country Cottage Needleworks. It stitched up in about a week. On the way to the frame shop, I realized I had not taken a photo. So I have borrowed a photo from Hoffman Distributing to show the design. I did it on 28-ct Natural Brown linen with the called for fibers. It was a fun quick stitch and now I think I might have to do it for me too. Photo to come when returned from the framer.</span><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sn0PRvXjjII/AAAAAAAABJM/sYzv90JI0do/s1600-h/Sunflower+Sampler+Pattern.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367463128342957186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 159px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sn0PRvXjjII/AAAAAAAABJM/sYzv90JI0do/s200/Sunflower+Sampler+Pattern.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Other things on the stitching front include stitching on design models for The Sunflower Seed. I have done 2 models so far this summer. Frames just came in. Now they need to be framed and photos taken to complete the patterns for release. Photos to follow when they are released. Currently I am working on another model and am about 1/3 done with it.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">One of my ongoing projects is "Giving Sisters" by Notforgotten Farms. I started this last year before Halloween and then it got put aside for awhile and I have pulled it out to work on again. This has become the project that I work on when we have our Monday night stitch group. Cannot work on design models then so, I work on other things. Have a good start on the second witch. Still not sure whether I will have this done by Halloween this year. Might be close enough that I will keep working even after Halloween. It is on 26-ct white birch Heatherfield with DMC.</span></p><p align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sn0O5Qy6w4I/AAAAAAAABJE/QpbKoIXzLOI/s1600-h/Giving+Sisters+4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367462707819365250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 124px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sn0O5Qy6w4I/AAAAAAAABJE/QpbKoIXzLOI/s200/Giving+Sisters+4.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Since I last posted I have had a case of startitis. I started and finished The Sunflower Sampler, but also started a couple of other things. I started Little House Needleworks "Cappuccino". I am doing it along with "Frappuccino" and "Cafe Latte" horizontal on the same piece of fabric. It is 28-ct Lt or Dk Cappuccino from R&R. Each of the designs come with the Belle Soie silk. The border is made of little 4 stitch squares of 3 different colors. That sure takes a long time to do. Did have a slight problem happen with the fabric. I had the fabric, etc. all kitted up for a while, so decided I needed to press the fabric before I started. For the first time in a long time, my iron spewed on the fabric. It left some marks, but most of it outside of the area that will show. I figured it would just look like coffee had spilled on it. LOL!!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sn0MeVDXrOI/AAAAAAAABI8/4BSM1ty2OwY/s1600-h/Coffee+Sampler+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367460046082387170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 177px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sn0MeVDXrOI/AAAAAAAABI8/4BSM1ty2OwY/s200/Coffee+Sampler+1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Oh, the Startitis affliction was not over. Back for Christmas 2007 Anita had given me Victoria's Sampler's "Heirloom Nativity" and the thread pack,etc and the fabric to do it. I had just been dying to start it. Well, I did. Now I think I will be about 100 before I get it done. Lots of color changes and as i get into it there are rows of specialty stitches, beads and other embellishments. Lots of confetti stitching too. I just love the design, just hope I still love it when I am done. I am doing it on 29-ct Smokey Pearl Cashel. Here is as far as I have gotten. One little Angel and the start of another. And Vonna I think I can feel your pain on your own VS project.</span></p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sn0LfJGDnDI/AAAAAAAABI0/gXvDKNIOeJE/s1600-h/Heirloom+Nativity+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367458960540671026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 122px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sn0LfJGDnDI/AAAAAAAABI0/gXvDKNIOeJE/s200/Heirloom+Nativity+1.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="justify"></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Last week I celebrated another birthday. Boy those things sure roll around fast. It was a great time. My friends were so generous in their gifts. Lots of funny cards too. I got 2 little Vera Bradley cosmetic type bags, (Good for storing stitching stuff in.), cute little note pads, 2 pairs of Brighton earrings, some purple cross stitch fibers and 2 bags of red licorice. Reina made me this darling stitched piece. It is 40-ct over 2. I love the look of the 40-ct, but not too good about stitching it. She said she could not remember who this was by, but I just love it.</span><br /></p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sn0KiDxIDhI/AAAAAAAABIs/zu-RUds8gXA/s1600-h/My+BD+Present+09+From+Reina.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367457911138684434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 172px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sn0KiDxIDhI/AAAAAAAABIs/zu-RUds8gXA/s200/My+BD+Present+09+From+Reina.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="justify"></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Then to top it off, on the day after, one of my bestest friends and her husband gave me an Acer notebook computer. I was blown away. You don't catch me speechless very often, but this did it. They thought it would be a good thing to have when I traveled. So it will go with me to Calfifornia later this month and also when we spend our week in Branson at Thanksgiving. Then I can keep up with blogs and e-mails while I am gone. Last Saturday I went out and bought a wireless router for use at home. Reina came over and helped me get everything hooked up, so now I can just use the Acer, instead of sitting at my desktop all the time. I still cannot believe that I have it. It is awesome.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">With me taking so long between posts, I know I have lost a lot of readers, but I do appreciate the loyal readers that I have and the comments really mean a lot to me. Have been trying to get caught up on my own blog reading. I have had my Google Reader down below 100 a couple of times. Hopefully, I accomplish that in the next week or so and then try to stay caught up after that. One problem is I keep adding more blogs to my subscriptions and thus more to read. I love reading about every one's stitching. Many are quite inspiring as well as enabling. LOL!!!</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Next week includes preparations for taking birthday dinner to my Dad for his 89th birthday. Not sure totally what my sisters are bringing to the table. My one contribution will be homemade ice cream. He loves the stuff. Also, my little furby, Muffin, is going to have surgery to remove a fatty tumor kinda down on her chest just below her collar. It has grown and gotten hard and the vet thought it could come out. I am nervous about this. After all she is 12 years old, and you never know what will happen when you sedate her for the surgery.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I hate to even mention this, but Blogger has treated me rather well in the preparation of this post. Photos loaded a little slow, but few other problems. That is a rarity. I guess I will just take it and run with it.</span></p>Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129782982079230707noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423837799388191167.post-75226351845833330312009-07-16T20:26:00.002-05:002009-07-16T20:31:58.880-05:00Check It Out - La D Da<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Check out this </span><a href="http://dipdiddlydesigns.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">blog</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> for a giveaway of the latest La D Da design. It includes everything needed to stitch the design. It is a wonderful giveaway from Jolene. Thanks so much. Good luck to all who comment for a chance to win. <p></p></div></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Happy Stitching!!!!!</span>Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129782982079230707noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423837799388191167.post-31831705390301862432009-07-10T09:54:00.010-05:002009-07-10T11:29:57.843-05:00Stitching Along<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Here is the completed birthday present that I had been working on for Anita. I gave it to her late last month. She used to have a wonderful Scottie. The pattern called for 4-5 colors of gray and black and I decided to use an overdyed silk instead.</span><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SldjJJFdoyI/AAAAAAAABIk/K-8Uk3nq0OY/s1600-h/Scottie+Dog+Framed.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356859290489299746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SldjJJFdoyI/AAAAAAAABIk/K-8Uk3nq0OY/s200/Scottie+Dog+Framed.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> Vermillion Stitchery - Scottie Dog</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">28-ct Lambswool Linen</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Belle Soie - Noir<br /></div></span><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">It seems that I am still infatuated with the BBD Stocking designs. Here is my latest finish. It is from the May designs. The purple is purple aster instead of the called for Sugared Violets. LNS was out of Sugared Violets and I could not wait for the order to come in.</span><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Slddu5U9vsI/AAAAAAAABIc/OOWza-a85gg/s1600-h/Tulip+Border+Stocking.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356853342024613570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Slddu5U9vsI/AAAAAAAABIc/OOWza-a85gg/s200/Tulip+Border+Stocking.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> BBD - Tulip Border Stocking (May)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">30 ct. Korty's Special Blend</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">CC - Poblano Pepper and Purple Aster</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Yesterday while I was working at the LNS, I picked up the June and July Stocking designs. Last night I got a start on Bountiful Stars from the July designs. I am using Belle Soie Blue Lagoon and Cranberry. You know me an silk. I cannot live with out it, so I did some substituting. I like the colors being a little brighter than the model. Progress so far. </span><br /></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SlddLhKfr8I/AAAAAAAABIU/K4bPpql7bec/s1600-h/IMGP0947.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356852734242828226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SlddLhKfr8I/AAAAAAAABIU/K4bPpql7bec/s200/IMGP0947.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="justify"></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Actually I have done a little more on this while I was waiting for photos to load in blogger. Should have this done fairly quickly. However, will not get much done tomorrow, as the stitching group is taking a road trip. We are making a Vera Bradley/Brighton jewelry run to KC. It is my birthday month and the birthday gift is burning a hole in my pocket.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I also have been doing quite a bit of model stitching for The Sunflower Seed. Have one design done waiting on the frame. The next one is getting close to being half done. Both have been fun stitches. Also had a case of startitis and have started LHN coffee series. I am doing all three designs on one piece. Have the border almost done on Cappuccino. Progress photo to come later.</span><br /><br /></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Blackbird Designs freebie has been done a while, but I just got it framed.</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SldXXd3qmPI/AAAAAAAABH8/jSBfAcYfVYQ/s1600-h/Blackbird+Design+Freebie+Sampler+Framed.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356846342447208690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 125px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SldXXd3qmPI/AAAAAAAABH8/jSBfAcYfVYQ/s200/Blackbird+Design+Freebie+Sampler+Framed.jpg" border="0" /></a> Anita did some rearranging at the shop and this is one model that I had done that she sent home with me. It is a 2005 design by Lizzie Kate. It was from her pocketbook series kits. It will be added to my patriotic wall of designs.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SldW6maQFII/AAAAAAAABH0/uVHD-jC9ock/s1600-h/LK+Long+May+She+Wave.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356845846523548802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 172px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SldW6maQFII/AAAAAAAABH0/uVHD-jC9ock/s200/LK+Long+May+She+Wave.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Recently I completed another prayer shawl. It is more of a country blue IRL. A friend and I delivered it Monday to my adopted Mother. She had knee replacement surgery on Tuesday. Have another one in progress. It is probably about half done. I do these on car trips when I cannot stitch with a dog in my lap.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SldWjUz4b8I/AAAAAAAABHs/B89W0XmvPCM/s1600-h/Blue+Prayer+Shawl.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356845446662221762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SldWjUz4b8I/AAAAAAAABHs/B89W0XmvPCM/s200/Blue+Prayer+Shawl.jpg" border="0" /></a> Thanks to everyone for their comments on my last post and to all others that stop by. I guess the last one was a little busy, but things have slowed down considerably. However, I still don't think I have my blogging mojo up to par. Bear with me as I try to get things moving in the right direction. Have lots of photos of stitching retreat, Symphony in the Flint Hills and 4th of July fireworks to show. Maybe I can get my act together and put together another post real soon. Would rather spend my time stitching than messing with blogger.</p><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><p>Just now blogger had a hiccup and I thought I had lost the last hour's work. Was able to retrieve the autosaved draft. I am going to hit publish real soon before it disappears again.<br /></p></div></span></span>Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129782982079230707noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423837799388191167.post-63856096270487082022009-06-17T22:38:00.016-05:002009-06-18T01:22:29.464-05:00Whirlwind World- Photo Heavy and Long<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Wow!!! It has almost been a month since I had a post. Most of my readers probably think that I have fallen off the face of the earth. Sorry, I am still around. Things have been just a whirlwind for about the last 6 weeks. First there was the Shop Hop, then I spent about 6 days with my Dad with limited computer access. Since I returned from there, I have had just about meeting myself coming and going and still trying to fit stitching in along the way. Attended 2 graduation parties, hosted my church ladies group, attended a wedding and helped with the reception, along with test driving a couple of cars. (More about this later). As we did last year, we decided to go to South Dakota the week after Memorial Day. It just makes it come out that we are there about every 6 months. Since it is about a 500 mile trip one way, we try to spread it out over the year. During that trip, I finished a prayer shawl, except for the fringe. Photo in later post. We had a great time visiting family in South Dakota with aunts and with siblings and nieces and nephews, including a great picnic with wonderful smoked pork tenderloin. <p><span style="font-family:Arial;">For two days of the trip we went on up north in South Dakota to visit a cousin that visited us in April. We always have a great time together and when all of us get retired we are going to take an Alaskan Cruise together. The growing season is really different from Kansas to South Dakota and I was amazed to see these flowers in bloom. Love both lilacs and bleeding hearts. The lilacs were along the road across from the cousins house and the bleeding heart is in her yard. I had to get the windmill in the photo because I love windmills. Someday, I should include a photo of my collection of windmill pictures, etc. that I have on one wall in my basement.</span></p></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SjnGKfvTWjI/AAAAAAAABHk/LbCkiwJQDSM/s1600-h/Lilacs+at+Lake+Mina.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348523916100065842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 142px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SjnGKfvTWjI/AAAAAAAABHk/LbCkiwJQDSM/s200/Lilacs+at+Lake+Mina.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SjnEQSgIBDI/AAAAAAAABHc/wndjhSZEW0g/s1600-h/Jackie"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348521816602706994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SjnEQSgIBDI/AAAAAAAABHc/wndjhSZEW0g/s200/Jackie%27s+Bleeding+Heart.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">On our return trip we brought 2 13-year old nieces home with us for a one week visit. One had visited our house when she was about 3. The other had not been here before. Back in April, Morris bought his own birthday present at 50-inch plasma TV. So here is were we found the girls a lot of the time they were with us. The first evening they found the remote and figured out the reclining love seat.</span><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SjnC456lBpI/AAAAAAAABHU/fvkvUkZN9jc/s1600-h/Favorite+Place.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348520315354154642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SjnC456lBpI/AAAAAAAABHU/fvkvUkZN9jc/s200/Favorite+Place.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Samantha (light hair) on the left and Robin (dark hair) on the right <p></p></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">We live on a 3-acre lot so Morris has a riding mower to keep the grass down. The girls had fun driving around the backyard on the Sunday afternoon. They did not get up until noon that day. Then Uncle Morris made them French Toast for lunch.</span><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SjnBzb-c5CI/AAAAAAAABHM/UITAP4Aqhpg/s1600-h/Robin+on+Tractor.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348519121906361378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 181px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SjnBzb-c5CI/AAAAAAAABHM/UITAP4Aqhpg/s200/Robin+on+Tractor.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> Robin on the Tractor<br /><br /></span><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SjnA1VU418I/AAAAAAAABHE/ptkeHfdEreY/s1600-h/Samantha+on+Tractor.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348518054969530306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 182px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SjnA1VU418I/AAAAAAAABHE/ptkeHfdEreY/s200/Samantha+on+Tractor.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> <span style="font-family:arial;">Samantha on the Tractor </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Samantha is very much into horses and we have some really good friends that have horses. So late on Sunday afternoon we went to their house for a cook out and each of the girls got to ride one of the horses.<br /></div></span><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SjnAF71ujpI/AAAAAAAABG8/d9w8IudAWXM/s1600-h/Samantha+on+JD.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348517240674094738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 168px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SjnAF71ujpI/AAAAAAAABG8/d9w8IudAWXM/s200/Samantha+on+JD.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Samantha on JD</span><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sjm-7aEN47I/AAAAAAAABG0/_pX306hHbnQ/s1600-h/Robin+on+JD.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348515960297743282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 154px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sjm-7aEN47I/AAAAAAAABG0/_pX306hHbnQ/s200/Robin+on+JD.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> Robin on JD<br /></span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="justify">Monday, they went grocery shopping with me to get things that they would eat. Both also wanted to learn to stitch and crochet, so I made up stitch bags and selected beginner projects for them. With Monday being my weekly stitch group, they both went with me to the LNS. However, after work Morris stopped by and Samantha came home with him in hopes of going swimming in the neighbor's pool. Robin stayed with me and got her first stitching lesson. She did a great job and was really fitting in with our wild and crazy stitch group. Later that evening after we got home she was visited by the dreaded "cross stitch frog". She got off on some counting and I ended up frogging a lot of her stitching. She really did not get too discouraged. <p></p></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Tuesday, Morris took the afternoon off from work and took them to the movie "UP". Not sure who enjoyed it more, him or the girls. Then we took them to the American Legion for Bingo. Robin got down to needing one number for a $400 blackout. Had she won that she would have been hooked on Bingo forever. They both liked it quite well. Samantha wanted to know if we could come back on Thursday. I had to tell her they did not play on Thursday. They were fascinated by the ink daubers.<br /><br />On Wednesday, Morris took the entire day off so we could go to Worlds of Fun, a big amusement park in the Kansas City area. It was rather iffy, if we were going to get to go. It rained early in the morning and it is no fun to go if it is raining or the prospect of thunderstorms. However, it cleared off and we had a wonderful day. They rode all the roller coasters but one. Robin could not get anyone to ride that one with her. It went backwards for half of the ride. I definitely don't do backwards on anything. There was one ride that Samantha did not want to ride called "Cyclone Sam" and Robin talked her into it and when she got off she wanted to go again. That one they rode twice. Morris said the last time he rode that one, his brain was scrambled the rest of the day.<br /></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sjm-QucLeEI/AAAAAAAABGs/Y_1IhNGGC_A/s1600-h/Mamba+Roller+Coaster.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348515227032582210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sjm-QucLeEI/AAAAAAAABGs/Y_1IhNGGC_A/s200/Mamba+Roller+Coaster.jpg" border="0" /></a>Here the girls are standing in from of the Mamba. It has one of the highest first drops of any roller coaster. I actually rode this one, but that was about it for me. I left my stomach and lots of other things at the top of that drop. I became the holder of the glasses. They got soaked riding a couple of the water rides and had to go change into dry clothes. Good planning on our part to bring dry clothes.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sjm9M8KosbI/AAAAAAAABGk/men578NWdAQ/s1600-h/Wooden+Roller+Coaster.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348514062485991858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sjm9M8KosbI/AAAAAAAABGk/men578NWdAQ/s200/Wooden+Roller+Coaster.jpg" border="0" /></a> This is the new wooden roller coaster "The Prowler". They said for a wooden roller coaster, it was pretty smooth. I did not even try it. All in all it was a good day. Robin was asleep before we even got out of the Kansas City area. LOL!!<br /><br />Since we live in the state capitol of Kansas, Thursday brought a trip downtown to a lunchtime brown bag concert on the capitol grounds and a tour of the State Capitol Building. They have recently reopened the stairway to the top of the dome. It had been closed for years. When I was in school, i had made the trek to the top, but not this time. Neither did Morris. He went part way, but the girls went all the way to the top and outside. It is a total of 296 steps.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sjm8EegNoqI/AAAAAAAABGc/9F-GBK3NQOQ/s1600-h/Capitol+Dome+Stairs.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348512817572848290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sjm8EegNoqI/AAAAAAAABGc/9F-GBK3NQOQ/s200/Capitol+Dome+Stairs.jpg" border="0" /></a> Part of the stairway inside the Capitol Dome.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">On Friday they went to a birthday lunch with me and then I took them shopping. That was a treat clothes shopping with teenagers. Friday night we had out crochet lesson. They both got the hang of it pretty good. Samantha was loose with her stitches and Robin was tight. Robin's mom, stepdad and 2 little sisters came on Saturday afternoon to pick them up. We were going to have a wiener roast that night, but it was too windy. After all, we live in Kansas, where the wind blows most of the time. The girls are already planning to come again next year. It was different having to play "mom", considering I don't have kids, just other people's kids at different times.<br /><br />On Saturday, I worked at the LNS and both girls wanted to go with me. We continued on our crochet lessons. Morris came by a little after noon to see who wanted to go home with him. The only one that went home with him was the dogs. I guess the girls were enjoying their time hanging out at the LNS. There was not much stitching going on the entire week that the girls were here. I did not do the movie with them, so I could stay home and stitch.<br /></div><div align="justify">Are you still with me?</div><div align="justify"><br />OK, now on the stitching front. After all this is supposed to me a stitching blog. Here is "Aloha" after framing. The mat is a dark burgundy. It is hard to tell in the photo.<br /></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sjm6NgwiLfI/AAAAAAAABGU/yuQMvk-H4cw/s1600-h/Mary"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348510773773741554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sjm6NgwiLfI/AAAAAAAABGU/yuQMvk-H4cw/s200/Mary%27s+Christmas+Framed.jpg" border="0" /></a>I finished the little Snowman that I had started. Now that seemed like a lot of stitching for no bigger than he was. Have found another kit similar to him and have already thrown away the little piece of 18-ct aida that was with it. There is enough room on the other end of the blue piece of fabric for another snowman. Then I will probably have them finished as little pillow for door hangers.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sjm5gqcah9I/AAAAAAAABGM/CfEN6RAUlP0/s1600-h/Snowman+Kit+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348510003279595474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 190px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sjm5gqcah9I/AAAAAAAABGM/CfEN6RAUlP0/s200/Snowman+Kit+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />While I was in South Dakota and since I returned, I have also worked on my Notforgotten Farms-Giving Sisters. Now there is one witch done. A start on the cauldron and where the needle is, is the beginning of the second witch. The fabric color did not come out accurate. It is 26-ct white birch heatherfield.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sjm4niVgegI/AAAAAAAABGE/yPphwXYGZtI/s1600-h/Giving+Sisters+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348509021850597890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 132px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sjm4niVgegI/AAAAAAAABGE/yPphwXYGZtI/s200/Giving+Sisters+3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Currently, I am working on a Sunflower Seed design model, While I was at the shop today, I saw another design that she has about ready to do. I want to get this one done right away, because the new one is soooooo neat. I wanted to start it today. Also, I have a birthday present finished and framed. I will be able to post a photo of it next week after I give it to Anita for her birthday. The May Blackbird Designs Stocking booklet is out. Picked it up at the LNS last week when I worked. I have a small start on the one that is all lavender and green. Go figure, since I love purple. <p>You have endured all of this, to get to the big news. A few posts back I mentioned that I was considering a new car and/or camera. Several commented that I should do both. Well, I did the car part, but now I cannot afford the camera. LOL. </p><p><br />Last Friday, all by myself, I went and test drove a 2008 Ford Fusion and by mid-afternoon I was the proud owner of a 2008 Redfire Ford Fusion. It was a rental car, used in Arizona and has about 34,000 miles. So far, I am loving it. It has the two things I had said I wanted in my next car--- CD player and remote keyless entry. There are also a lot of other gadgets that I am still learning about. I have driven it every day since I got it. Here is a photo taken from an Internet car site. It is not actually my car, but mine is just like this.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sjm3qm5ZHKI/AAAAAAAABF8/YZZAlLQDxsI/s1600-h/Ford+Fusion.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348507975102831778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sjm3qm5ZHKI/AAAAAAAABF8/YZZAlLQDxsI/s200/Ford+Fusion.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Thanks to those of you that have stuck with me for this long and boring dissertation on my whirlwind world. Still have more to tell, but that will be in a later post. I am going to promise again, to try to do posts more often. These things would not be as long, if would just take the time to post more often. One deterrent to posting more often is that it cuts into my stitching time. Your comments and encouragement is very much appreciated.<br /></span><br /></span></p></div></div></div>Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129782982079230707noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423837799388191167.post-12812453045854612462009-05-20T09:38:00.009-05:002009-05-20T11:03:20.642-05:00UPDATE!!!! UPDATE!!!!! UPDATE!!!!!!!<span style="font-family:arial;">Been needing to do a stitching update for about 3 weeks, but things just were not cooperating, camera dying and spending several days with my Dad. So here goes.<span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">This is the final part of a Christmas present for my adopted sister Mary. She already knows about it, so I don't feel so bad about it being late. Tried to do too many stitched Christmas presents and this one just did not get done in time and then some other things bumped in ahead of it. This is the first thing I have done in a long time that required backstitching. Forgot how tedious and boring backstitching can be. The photo turned out sort of yellow, because the fabric is white in real life. Mary loves Hawaii and I thought this was appropriate for her. They are flowers found in Hawaii. Ready for the framer. This was done before I went to my Dad's.</span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/ShQb1dxo7SI/AAAAAAAABF0/ZfrSvFIOLxk/s1600-h/Mary"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337922063680728354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 127px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/ShQb1dxo7SI/AAAAAAAABF0/ZfrSvFIOLxk/s200/Mary%27s+Christmas+Finished.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Aloha</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">CrossStitch and Country Crafts Magazine</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">28-ct White Cashel</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Anchor Floss <p></p></div></span><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Continue to work on the Blackbird Monthly Stockings. They are really fun to stitch. </span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/ShQawyVL_JI/AAAAAAAABFs/xttnyLO3dh4/s1600-h/Daffodil+Stocking.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337920883787562130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 170px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/ShQawyVL_JI/AAAAAAAABFs/xttnyLO3dh4/s200/Daffodil+Stocking.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">BBD-</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">Daffodil Stocking-March</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">30-ct Korty's Special Blend R&R</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Recommended Fibers</span></div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">This stocking was finished while I was at my Dad's.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/ShQaOjA-FBI/AAAAAAAABFk/eCLSg5LIOJc/s1600-h/Sweet+Pea+Stocking.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337920295560680466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 173px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/ShQaOjA-FBI/AAAAAAAABFk/eCLSg5LIOJc/s200/Sweet+Pea+Stocking.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">BBD-Sweet Pea Stocking- April</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">30-ct Korty's Special Blend R&R</span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Recommended Threads</span> </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">I think I mentioned that Anita, aka The Sunflower Seed, has been doing the finishing on the stockings. I just love how they turn out. She is just so precise on how she makes the curves turn out so smooth. I could never get them to look that good. You will notice that there is one unfinished in the photo. It is from the January ones- Auld Lang Syne.</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/ShQZfgOenaI/AAAAAAAABFc/LRIU8Qzs9uA/s1600-h/Finished+Stockings.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337919487358180770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/ShQZfgOenaI/AAAAAAAABFc/LRIU8Qzs9uA/s200/Finished+Stockings.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">While I was at my Dad's, I pulled out some old WIPs and worked on them after I finished the Sweet Pea Stocking. Did not have any design models to work on for The Sunflower Seed. I rotated between 2 different WIPs. First is Giving Sisters by Notforgotten Farms on 26-ct White Birch Heatherfield with DMC. In order to get really good coverage with the black am working with three strands. All that was done before, was the witch down to the waist the 1761 sign and a little border. Made lots of solid black progress and the pumpkin. I still really like this design, but the solid black can get a little boring.</span><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/ShQYRTwyEWI/AAAAAAAABFU/IDo4bOwuxE8/s1600-h/Giving+Sisters+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337918143982604642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 188px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/ShQYRTwyEWI/AAAAAAAABFU/IDo4bOwuxE8/s200/Giving+Sisters+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Next I worked on a baby sampler for my niece. This has turned into a bigger project than I first thought. It has a lot of color changes and backstitching. Doesn't seem like I made much progress, but seemed like I stitched on it a lot of time. I added the light green blanket to the stack and started the little pink booties. The green blanket has about 3 colors of green, plus a blended needle in part of it. The booties have about 4 colors of pink. It is stitch a couple of stitches and change colors. This one that I have to color in the pattern as I work to keep the frog from coming to visit. This design is Precious Baby by BobbyG on 28-ct lambswool linen with Anchor floss.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/ShQXdrDs8II/AAAAAAAABFM/RDmi_l1PNSo/s1600-h/Megan+Baby+Sampler+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337917256882778242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 106px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/ShQXdrDs8II/AAAAAAAABFM/RDmi_l1PNSo/s200/Megan+Baby+Sampler+2.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">There was another project I started and have since finished while I was gone, but it is for a birthday present and she sometimes reads my blog. It is ready for the framer and I will show pictures after her birthday in June. It was done with my favorite fiber Belle Soie silk. Go figure.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Last Saturday I went looking for a small project to carry with me to a KC Royals baseball game. I ran across this Snowman kit by Cross My Heart. It was dated as 1995, so I have had it around for awhile. Everything was with it and I had even done some work on it. Thought it would be a good thing to take with me. Tried to figure out where I was on it and decided that I did not like the aida that came with the kit that I had started using. So, I just threw it out and started over on some mystery light blue fabric scrap I found. Now my stitching friends that labeled me as a "fiber snob" have labeled me as a "fabric snob". I guess we could just say I am a snob all the way around. Here is my progress on this little guy so far.</span><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/ShQWdI5lfgI/AAAAAAAABFE/Q8dvtGypSNo/s1600-h/Snowman+Kit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337916148201913858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 178px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/ShQWdI5lfgI/AAAAAAAABFE/Q8dvtGypSNo/s200/Snowman+Kit.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">While talking to Anita yesterday, she told me she was picking colors for a new design. I will be stopping by to pick it up today after my church ladies meeting. Have my Ice Cream Sundae Dessert ready to go. Hopefully, I can keep it frozen driving in and put it in freezer at the church to keep frozen before and after serving. Then will run a piece over to Anita when I pick up my new assignment. <p></p></div></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Haven't talk to my Dad since I returned from there. Been in contact with my sisters and they have talked to him and one BIL took him to the doctor last week. So nothing new on that front. <p></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Will continue to use Morris's camera for awhile, but need to figure some things out on it because it made some of my pictures look a little more yellow than I like. Old one makes things look pink and now this one make them look yellow part of the time. I guess I am hard to please. The car I was looking out is now off the table. It was too much for what I want to pay. It was a year newer than I thought, so that made it higher in price. I guess I will just keep looking. The one I have now runs good, but I know that someday it will start costing me a lot with all the miles it has on it. <p>In closing, I would like to give a shout out to one of my stitching buddies. Janet is leaving next week to spend the summer in Minnesota running the family's antique shop. We are going to miss you being with us each week as we stitch. We will call you and put you on the speaker of my cell phone so you can sort of be with us and hear our laughter. Be safe and hurry home. <p>Not sure when my next post will be. The next few days are busy and then we will be in South Dakota from Memorial Day til the following Saturday when we bring the 2 13-year olds home with us. Then I probably won't have much time to stitch or blog. Still trying to get my Google Reader back down under 200. Maybe I can get that done before we leave. Yesterday seemed like not many added, but this morning everyone had made up for yesterday and had about 15 added before 10:00 AM Yikes!!!!!!!!!<br /></span></span></span></p></div><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"></span>Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129782982079230707noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423837799388191167.post-53001090984601909982009-05-17T20:18:00.002-05:002009-05-17T20:48:59.224-05:00And The Winner Is......<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Well, I am back and have done the drawing for my 100th post prize. I used the random number generator to determine the winner. And the winner is <a href="http://thetwistedstitcher.blogspot.com/">Vonna</a>. Congrats to her. I will get her prize in the mail as soon as I can. Thanks to all who stopped by to read my blog and comment. I wish I could give everyone a prize. Several of you commented on the Snippet/Ort Jars that Anita had painted. We are out of them, but I am thinking of doing another giveaway as soon as she gets some more painted. Stay tuned. <p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">This week is a semi-busy week. Am hostess for my church ladies on Wednesday afternoon, so I need to make some type of dessert. Oh darn!! Right now it looks like an ice cream sundae type dessert that you prepare in a 9x13 pan and cut in squares. Still need to do some grocery shopping for that too. </div><p align="justify"></p><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Also, am preparing to be gone to South Dakota most of the next week and when we return we will have 2-13 year olds with us for a week. At the end of the week, the parents will come after them. Not sure what all we will do with them here, but I am sure we will have lots of fun. <p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Spent from Thursday to the following Tuesday with my father. He was much better when I got there. After I got there he admitted that he was doing better, but I still stayed for several days. He likes someone to cook and pick up after him. Just like about every man. Got quite a bit of stitching done, but have either not taken pictures or downloaded the ones I have taken from the camera. Thought I would give a quick update without photos and then do the photos later in the week. One of the main things I stitched on is a gift, so you won't be able to see it for a while. Actually pulled out a couple of WIPs and worked on them. There was some progress on them too. <p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Vonna commented as to what kind of camera I was looking at buying to replace my dying one. I was looking at an Olympus FE25. Have always had Canons, but in reading reviews, I decided to go in another direction. However, Morris told me I could use his Pentax for a while. He is thinking of getting a digital SLR, so I have put off my purchase for a bit. Now I am sort of on a new car binge. My current car is a 2001 with 118,500 miles on it. Never have I had that many miles on a vehicle or ever kept one this long. Who knows what I will do. Camera..... Car..... Camera.... Car. That is quite a debate. LOL!!!</div><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify">Before I went to by dad's, I had made quite a bit of progress in blog reading. Am further behind now. The local city library did have computers, but you were limited to 30 minutes at a time. By the time I got e-mail read, e-bay checked and a few blogs read, my time was up.</p><p align="justify">Off to do some more stitching. I promise I will get some pictures up later this week. I still owe you the big rundown on our Stitching Retreat. Several of us were at a Graduation Party on Friday night and were laughing about some of the things that went on at the retreat. </p><p align="justify">Happy Stitching!!!!!</p><p align="justify"></span></span></span> </p></span></span>Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129782982079230707noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423837799388191167.post-71696833564892320872009-05-06T22:55:00.002-05:002009-05-06T23:23:51.448-05:00Out of Circulation<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Well, Anita and I survived the Shop Hop. It was a busy 3 days. I went into the shop to open on Monday morning while she went to the follow-up meeting and to draw for the prizes. Before I left home I received a call from you nearly 89-year old father. Said he was not feeling well and wondered if I could come spend a few days with him and helping out. Told him I would need to rearrange some things, but would call him back with when I could come. Had obligations at church on Sunday and my Thursday work day at the LNS. After numerous phone calls and talking to Anita, I got the church stuff covered and figured out how I could get one day of work in to give her a day off and still make it to my Dad's.<span></div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The plan was for me to trade days and work Wednesday instead of Thursday. So I am leaving after lunch tomorrow to go stay with my Dad. It is about 125 miles away. This allowed me to get some grocery shopping done for him and to leave for Morris, do some laundry and get my stitching stuff lined up. Surprise! Surprise!. I plan to stay until Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. Will look into a few things regarding to help make life easier for him. I think he really is just feeling lonely and depressed. He has never been one to handle being alone. My step-mother has had to be moved closer to one of her daughters out of state for care. She was in failing health too and it was a struggle for them both to take care of each other. I think my Dad will do better just having to care for himself, but he does get very lonely. <p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Have packed up all my stitch projects, my crocheting, a book and my Ipod. After living in a city of some size since I graduated from high school many, many years ago, it is difficult to go back to the community where I grew up. It is a VERY rural and poor area of the state. For most things you have to drive 30 miles, that includes the grocery store. There is a very small grocery store with basic items, but not much else. I have done this before, but it is always hard.<p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Since I won't be back until mid-week, the drawing for the giveaway for my 100th post will be delayed until my return. There will be no computer access while I am down there. I might be able to go to the library, but not sure. If you want to sign up for the giveaway or read about it go <a href="http://purplewildcat.blogspot.com/2009/04/shop-hop-and-100th-post-contest.html">here</a>. Have finally gotten my Google Reader to just under 200, but it will be back up to a high number when I return. I really try to get caught up, but it just does not seem to happen. So, I am mostly reading and not commenting. Sorry about that. I am seeing some awesome stitching, but just don't take time to comment, so I can move on to the next one. I just don't want the blogging and reading to take up too much of my stitching time.<p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Not much stitching news here, but I promise to do an update when I return. I have finished the "Aloha" piece that was a Christmas present. Getting it to the framer will have to be after I get back. When I get back I will work one day, go to a graduation party, go to a Royals baseball game and usher at church for the first 4 days after I return. The rat race continues.<p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Happy Stitching to All and will post when I return.</span></div>Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129782982079230707noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423837799388191167.post-32498413106455485752009-04-30T23:02:00.007-05:002009-04-30T23:54:43.352-05:00Shop Hop and 100th Post Contest<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Now I am going to provide you with a little shock therapy. Posts 2 days in a row ought to do it just fine. I promised you a Shop Hop update. We had a great day today. It is always long and tiring, but still lots of fun to see old friends that come to the Hop every year. Later in the post I will speak to the contest in honor of my 100th post.</span></div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">First of all, is the Shop Hop Sampler that the pattern is provided free to all those doing the Hop. In the past, the Hop sampler has been a collaborative effort with each of the involved shops doing a piece for the sampler and then it all combined into one. This year it was decided to do something a little different. Each shop was to provide their own Shop Hop sampler. This is the one designed by Anita of The Sunflower Seed. I stitched the model on 28-ct Natural Linen with GAST fibers. It will fit into an 8x10 frame. Everything is available in the shop to make the design. After the Hop, the design will probably be released to the public.</span></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sfp3LWnpYxI/AAAAAAAABE8/zpJVaM0vqfw/s1600-h/Shop+Hop+2009+Freebie+Sampler.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330704145880539922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 194px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sfp3LWnpYxI/AAAAAAAABE8/zpJVaM0vqfw/s200/Shop+Hop+2009+Freebie+Sampler.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">There are 2 other Sunflower Seed designs available during the Hop. These have yet to be released by Hoffman or Norden for distribution. The first is "Resurrection". It was done on 28-ct Natural Linen with Crescent Colours. This is another design that I stitched the model for. One of our Monday Night stitchers requested Anita to design an Easter design that was not eggs and bunnies. This is the result. This was a fun stitch. I loved every minute of it, even when I had to do a little frogging.</span><br /></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sfp2uDe02DI/AAAAAAAABE0/WcJIhtd4cEI/s1600-h/SS+Resurrection.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330703642527062066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 193px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sfp2uDe02DI/AAAAAAAABE0/WcJIhtd4cEI/s200/SS+Resurrection.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">The second new design is "Needles and Pins". This is such a fun pattern and I am sure all the "real" stitchers feel it expresses their feelings completely. Since I did not stitch this one, I am not sure what it is stitched on, but I think it is an R&R fabric with GAST fibers. Right now I think this will be the prize for my 100th post contest. I will include the fabric and fiber to stitch it. Make a comment to this post by May 8th, and then I will draw for the winner. That will give those that are behind in reading blogs to read and comment if they choose. I don't think I am ever going to get caught up. I start making progress and then I get involved in something or am away from the computer a day or so and then I am further behind again. About a week ago, I had my Google Reader under 200, but now it is back up to about 225.</span><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sfp2RoAoDSI/AAAAAAAABEs/Q4YkAPfRlC8/s1600-h/SS+Needles+and+Pins.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330703154116300066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 158px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sfp2RoAoDSI/AAAAAAAABEs/Q4YkAPfRlC8/s200/SS+Needles+and+Pins.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Now back to things available during the Hop. You know how the new saying among the kids is "SNAP" to represent things that they are not supposed to say. Well, we have the stitchers version. "OH STITCH". Anita designed and stitched this little piece on Monday. Painted the frame from some unfinished ones in the shop. It is sooooo cute. We it kitted up in the cutest little quilted bag with the pattern, fabric and floss. It is done on 32-ct Lambswool Linen with DMC floss.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sfp1yjDUseI/AAAAAAAABEk/q5I5fYU29n8/s1600-h/Shop+Hop+2009+kit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330702620209492450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 168px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sfp1yjDUseI/AAAAAAAABEk/q5I5fYU29n8/s200/Shop+Hop+2009+kit.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Over the last few years, Anita has hand painted snippet jars and needle boxes with her wonderful Sunflower. This year she found some interesting shapes for the snippet jars. I love the ones that look like little milk jars.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sfp1O8UpLNI/AAAAAAAABEc/UD9HauVqHEY/s1600-h/Shop+Hop+2009+Needle+Cases+and+Snippit+Jars.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330702008517733586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 158px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sfp1O8UpLNI/AAAAAAAABEc/UD9HauVqHEY/s200/Shop+Hop+2009+Needle+Cases+and+Snippit+Jars.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Another cute quick design that Anita came up with this little "Alphabet Coaster" series. They are so cute. I think I might make some for Christmas presents. We have all the letter available and extra coasters, if you want to do the same letter to make up a set.</span><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sfp0257oy7I/AAAAAAAABEU/kh8innTA6Gs/s1600-h/Shop+Hop+2009+Coasters.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330701595559119794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 122px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sfp0257oy7I/AAAAAAAABEU/kh8innTA6Gs/s200/Shop+Hop+2009+Coasters.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Now I get down to this part and there was supposed to be another picture, but blogger must have decided that I had already put in too many. It is a little "Mini Gentle Sampler". about 4 inches square done on Dk Espresso from R&R 28 or 30-ct and done with the newest GAST colors. I stitched it in about a weekend. We have it kitted with the fabric, frame and pattern and have the threads in a separate packet. If blogger was not so picky, I would try to load it now, but it would probably screw up the rest of this post. I have already been working almost an hour loading photos and composing this. Not going to take the chance. I'll post it next time. <p></p></div></span><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Tonight, I started another one of those Blackbird Design stockings from the April set. Anita got the other ones that she and I had stitched, finished. They are just so darned cute. I forgot to take a picture of them when I was taking pictures. Am using Morris's camera totally. Just don't want all my work to show up pink from my camera. Went shopping online last night. Might have figured out what kind I want to get as a replacement. Maybe can fork over the money within the next couple of weeks. I am sure that Morris is not too excited to have all these cross stitch pictures on his camera.</span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I have probably bored you enough with all my Shop Hop info, so I better close this down and get some rest. We still have 2 more days to go.<br /><br />REMINDER: Make a comment to this post by the end of the day on May 8th and be eligible for a new project. </span></div><p><span style="font-family:arial;">Still plan to post a further report on our recent retreat complete with all the funny comments.</span></p><p>Happy Stitching.</p><p></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"></p><div align="justify"> </div></span></span>Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129782982079230707noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423837799388191167.post-1474925137589226772009-04-29T23:13:00.004-05:002009-04-29T23:57:26.980-05:00Quick Update<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">For those of you that are waiting for my report on our recent stitching retreat, I am sorry, it is going to have to wait for a little longer. Decided I needed to do some kind of post in the meantime. Between my busy life and my dying digital camera, things have just not worked out for me to do a full blown report on the retreat. When I downloaded the pictures that I took at retreat, most of them had a pink tint to them. In talking to Reina, (stitching friend) she said that when hers died it was doing that. Waited to get some pictures from one of the others at the retreat. I am including some of them here. Thanks Jan. <p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Last week I was busy making stuff for a brunch that was held at the church on Saturday. On Friday, Morris's cousin Jackie and husband Richard came from South Dakota for a visit. They were here until Monday morning. You know how stitchers are---we would rather stitch than clean house. So I had to spend some time cleaning and preparing for their visit. I went from Wednesday night until sometime on Sunday after lunch without stitching. That is an extraordinary length of time for me to go without stitching. I am surprised that I did not turn into the b***h that I usually do when I do not get a chance to stitch. We are a wonderful time with Jackie and Richard. Even took them to a Royals baseball game on Saturday night. Royals lost. Boo!!! <p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">However, on the stitching front I did finish something. Finished the Blackbird Design freebie that was on their blog. They were running a contest while they were gone to France. Checked in on the contest yesterday. There were 133 entrants. Wow!!! Congrats to the winner, Brenda and to one of my blogging buddies,<a href="http://creativethread.blogspot.com/"> Marie P</a> who was one of the second place winners. My sampler was started at our stitch retreat so I put in "Stitcher's Retreat -- 2009.</span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SfkmxvErYPI/AAAAAAAABEM/geBXi7JsK_w/s1600-h/Blackbird+Design+Freebie+Sampler.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330334269861224690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 118px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SfkmxvErYPI/AAAAAAAABEM/geBXi7JsK_w/s200/Blackbird+Design+Freebie+Sampler.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Blackbird Design Freebie</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">30-ct Creme Brule by R&R</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Mahogany Belle Soie</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">During our retreat, I finished my LHN--From Sea to Shining Sea. You even get to see a picture of me with it. This is one of the pictures supplied by Jan. I should have done some photo editing to cut down the size, but haven't figured out how to do that yet with pictures that I get from someone else and not downloaded through my camera program. Still am technology challenged on such things. I don't often allow my photo to be taken, much less post them here.</span></div><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SfkmO0_OaHI/AAAAAAAABEE/_2ecPl5HYU4/s1600-h/Kathy+with+From+Sea+to+Shining+Sea.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330333670153545842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 133px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SfkmO0_OaHI/AAAAAAAABEE/_2ecPl5HYU4/s200/Kathy+with+From+Sea+to+Shining+Sea.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="justify"></a><span style="font-family:arial;">All that I am going to cover about our retreat is to include a group picture of all my stitching buddies. These are the same people that I stitch with every Monday night. </span><br /><br /></p><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sfkl608df_I/AAAAAAAABD8/xcmq0dmfP-g/s1600-h/Group+Picture.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330333326544568306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/Sfkl608df_I/AAAAAAAABD8/xcmq0dmfP-g/s200/Group+Picture.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Back Row: (l-r) Linda, Anita, Janet, Jan</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Front Row: (l-r)Reita, Reina, Marcia, Moi</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Laying in Front: (l-r) Jack, Josie</span></div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The B&B where we stayed has a new rescue dog Josie. She is a beautiful Golden Retriever. They were worried about how she would handle the guests. She did great and just came in the room where were stitching and hung out with the girls. The retreat was as wonderful as it always is. Lots of laughs, a good amount of stitching and a really wild game of CLR Floss Toss. More about all of this later. Suffice it to say that there was one time I was laughing so hard that I made myself dizzy.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The big thing on the agenda right now is the Heartland Shop Hop that begins tomorrow morning at 9:00AM. Have worked at The Sunflower Seed from around noon the last two days helping Anita get ready for it. Left there tonight at closing with everything ready to roll in the morning. I am going to try to take some pictures tomorrow and if I am not too tired maybe post them tomorrow night. Anita has a freebie Shop Hop sampler done (actually I stitched the model) along with fabric, floss and frames to go with it. There are several other specials available, like a mini-sampler, a fun new little design and 2 new designs. The new designs have not even been released through Hoffman and Norden yet. I stitched one of the new designs and the mini-sampler. If you are the in the Topeka and Kansas City areas, the Hop runs Thursday through Saturday. Come in and see all the goodies that are available.</span></p><p align="justify">My next post will be my 100th. I will be doing some kind of giveaway to those commenting on that post. Not sure now what it will be, but it will probably be a pattern with fabric and possibly the floss too. Stay tuned for that.</p><div align="justify"><br /><br /><br /></div><br /></span></span>Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129782982079230707noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423837799388191167.post-73634589199723358152009-04-16T21:57:00.002-05:002009-04-16T22:37:45.882-05:00Countdown<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">This is going to be a quick post with no photos. Am currently in several countdowns. To begin with, I along with my Monday Night stitching buddies are doing a retreat this weekend. Beginning about 1 tomorrow afternoon until around noon on Sunday, there will be nothing but stitching and laughing. I am taking my trusty notebook to record the many overheard remarks that need to be repeated. We all have been leading very hectic lives and need to have some chill out time with our "chick friends". We had a little test run about two weeks ago when a portion of us took a "chick trip" to the KC area to acquire some Vera Bradley bags and Brighton jewelry. I will try to do a report sometime next week. It will be a busy one for me. We will be having company from South Dakota for a long weekend plus I need to do some cooking for some events going on at the church that I cannot attend, but will help with some of the food preparation in advance. <p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Another countdown is my finish of LHN "From Sea to Shining Sea". I have completed all the 5 parts, now I have a little bit of vine to complete on the border. Thought I would get to it tonight, but I was cooking for the retreat and on the phone with my sister dealing with issues surrounding my elderly father. That is a totally other issue that I don't even want to get into. Not working on any Sunflower Seed design models. She had one ready for me and I started it Tuesday night and I did not think the colors were working the way she would want. Took it back to her yesterday and I was right. We have put it on the back burner for a week or so. This weekend I will work on some other WIPs and a Blackbird little stocking and freebie sampler <a href="http://blackbird-designs.blogspot.com/2009/04/our-first-contest.html">here.</a> Being the fiber snob that I am, I plan to stitch it with Belle Soie. Pictures later. <p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Two weeks from today is the first day of the Heartland Cross Stitch Shop Hop for 5 shops in Kansas City, Lawrence and Topeka. Have been helping Anita at The Sunflower Seed to prepare for it. Preparations will really be intense after our time off to re-charge this weekend. Shop Hop will be April 30th, 9-6, May 1st 9-6 and May 2nd 9-5. <p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The final countdown has to do with my blog. This current post is No. 98. My plans are to do a giveaway to celebrate my 100th post. Not sure what the giveaway will be, but it will be something special. I am selfish, so it will not be a stitched piece. It most likely will be a pattern with fabric and maybe some of the required fibers. Probably be in the neighborhood of $20-25 retail value. So watch for the 100th post and be sure to leave me a comment on that post. I will draw from those commenters approximately a week following the post. All the details will be in the 100th post. <p></p></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Off to see that my stitch bag is properly packed. That is more important than my clothes. LOL!! Thanks for stoppping in. Have a good weekend.</span></div><br /></span></span></span><br /></span>Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129782982079230707noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423837799388191167.post-11157278559836266432009-04-02T23:21:00.007-05:002009-04-03T00:13:55.890-05:00Framed and Other Stitching Adventures<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">With some tweaking and jiggling of the camera, I have managed to get some photos over the last couple of days. Most of these photos were taken at the LNS today where the lighting might be a little better. Hopefully, this was just a little hiccup with my camera. Not ready to buy a new one.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">A couple of weeks ago I picked up several pieces at the framer and dropped a hefty chunk of change. It is all worth it because they do a fantastic job.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SdWRNWIeDPI/AAAAAAAABDs/LrLr3IacNXA/s1600-h/American+Baby+Framed.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320318193273539826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 126px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SdWRNWIeDPI/AAAAAAAABDs/LrLr3IacNXA/s200/American+Baby+Framed.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">American Baby Sampler</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">by Willow Hill Samplings</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">28-ct Heritage Cashel by Picture This Plus</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Mix of called for threads and some changes</span><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SdWRGZ5PykI/AAAAAAAABDk/-LQeOZvJJu0/s1600-h/Sampler+Heart+Framed.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320318074024348226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 154px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SdWRGZ5PykI/AAAAAAAABDk/-LQeOZvJJu0/s200/Sampler+Heart+Framed.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Sampler Heart</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Freebie </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Mystery Fabric</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Valentine Pack Sampler Thread</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Color Name - Box of Chocolates</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SdWQ86EIotI/AAAAAAAABDc/r03rGX7ZgZU/s1600-h/Quaker+Heart+Framed.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320317910861259474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 142px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SdWQ86EIotI/AAAAAAAABDc/r03rGX7ZgZU/s200/Quaker+Heart+Framed.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Valentine Quaker Heart</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Freebie</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Mystery Fabric</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Needle Necessities Fiber</span><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SdWQx8MTRrI/AAAAAAAABDU/5kZUpJLGr9g/s1600-h/Long+Dog+Motif+Framed.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320317722453821106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 168px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SdWQx8MTRrI/AAAAAAAABDU/5kZUpJLGr9g/s200/Long+Dog+Motif+Framed.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Quaker Motif</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">From Long Dog Mouline Rouge</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">28-ct Lambswool Linen</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">WDW Stepping Stones - New February 2009</span><br /><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Have managed to get some stitching done on From Sea to Shining Sea. Finished Part 4 and started Part 5 and some more border. Plans are still to have it done by the Shop Hop the end of the month. Haven't stitched on this for several days because....</span></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SdWQpIhtMHI/AAAAAAAABDM/TuN9COBbGHo/s1600-h/From+Sea+10.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320317571146002546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 89px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SdWQpIhtMHI/AAAAAAAABDM/TuN9COBbGHo/s200/From+Sea+10.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">I have become obsessed by The Blackbird Designs little monthly stockings. This one was stitched last weekend. I changed the colors on this one. I did not like the green they had used. As an example of the funky things my camera was doing, this was shown as done in black. I could not post something that was that off in color.</span><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SdWPzvL7_bI/AAAAAAAABDE/S0b1xAV5NUc/s1600-h/Fractured+Quaker+Stocking.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320316653810744754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 145px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SdWPzvL7_bI/AAAAAAAABDE/S0b1xAV5NUc/s200/Fractured+Quaker+Stocking.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Fractured Quaker Stocking<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">30-ct Korty's Special Blend R&R</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">WDW - Bullfrog - New February 2009<br /></span><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Then this evening I finished another of the stockings. These stocking are out of the March stockings. I picked up the stuff to do the 3rd one in this month today while I was working. It called for a couple Crescent Colours that I did not have. (Just starting to get a collection of Crescent Colours)</span><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SdWPKbWCMBI/AAAAAAAABC8/0DqE9TLUD0c/s1600-h/Wild+Clover+Stocking.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320315944109748242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 156px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/SdWPKbWCMBI/AAAAAAAABC8/0DqE9TLUD0c/s200/Wild+Clover+Stocking.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Wild Clover Stocking<br />30-ct Korty's Special Blend R&R</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Recommended WDW<br /></div></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><div align="justify"><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">Finished the design model that I had been working on for The Sunflower Seed. Not sure when it will be released so I can show it here. Now I am working on another small design model and it should be done in a few days. Especially, if I can stay away from doing the stockings. Anita has done one stocking from January and one from February, so I am hoping that she will provide me lots of help to get these finished to be used as store models for the Shop Hop. They are really fun to stitch, don't take much fabric or time. I am thinking that the Quaker one could be done in several complementary colors and used on a swag or wreath for Christmas.<br /><p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Saturday part of our Monday Night Stitchers, aka Sunflower Stitchers are going on a road trip. We have all become Vera Bradley and Brighton jewelry nuts. In the KC metro area, there are two stores virtually side-by-side devoted to those two things. Whoopee!! A road trip. Also just down the street is a Cheesecake Factory. We are all dusting off our credit cards and ready for a big day.</span></div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><p></p></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">BETSY UPDATE: She is doing better. Anita is giving her insulin shops after she eats twice a day. She was so glad to be home from the vet and be at the shop again. Has been doing some limping around, so ended up getting some meds for osteoarthritis and that seems to have helped her. Since she was a pound puppy, we don't know for sure how old she is, but we think in the neighborhood of 13. So she is entitled to have a few aches and pains. We will just take good care of her.</span><br /><br />I am still trying to get caught up reading blogs in my Google Reader. I am getting closer to being caught up, but you all keep posting, sometimes faster than I can read. Have not been doing too much commenting. Sorry!!! I am concentrating on getting read and caught up. I will say that I see some amazing stitching going on out there. It all does a very good job of enabling me. Thanks everyone. All your visits and comments are greatly appreciated.</div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="center"></div></div><div align="justify">Just was looking at the number of posts that I have had. I am closing in on 100 posts. Have been thinking of doing some type of give-away to celebrate that. Not sure what it will be, but keep watching. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Happy Stitching!!!!!!!!</div></span></span>Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129782982079230707noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423837799388191167.post-23816184765694428862009-03-30T14:01:00.002-05:002009-03-30T14:15:39.142-05:00Camera Problems<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Last night I was all ready to do this big post with lots of pictures and the camera started acting up. All the photos came out with a slight pink cast to them. Could it be that my 5 - year old digital is dying on me? Planned to show 4 framed pieces and progress on "From Sea to Shining Sea". Also this weekend, I finished one of the Blackbird Designs Stockings from the March set. Of course I changed the color and "no" I did not use silk. LOL. Have done a little playing with the camera and I have taken a picture here at the LNS while I am working. It looks better. Maybe tonight I can get some photos up. <p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Yes, I am working on a Monday. Betsy the shop dog has been sick and Anita called me yesterday that she was not doing very well and had an appointment at the vet for her this morning. We were both thinking the worst. However, this morning she was better so we may have dodged a bullet. Late last week she was diagnosed with diabetes. Never heard of it in dogs, but have heard of it in cats. Hopefully she continues to improve. Those furbabies are a very important part of our lives. <p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Better get back to work/stitching. Try to have pictures, etc tonight or tomorrow.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Thanks to all who visit and comment. It is greatly appreciated..</span></div><br /></span></span>Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129782982079230707noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423837799388191167.post-62555430887810017152009-03-18T10:25:00.004-05:002009-03-18T11:10:53.962-05:00A Finish, Progress and An Award<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Although it has been a while since I posted, I will try to keep this from being a novel. Sometimes I get carried away. <p></p></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">American Baby is finished and at the framer. Finished it on March 1st after starting it on January 1st. As documented during stitching, I made a few changes in the colors of the sheep and the bunnies. Then at the end, instead of stitching the stars on with floss, I used gold looking star charms. I think they add just the right finishing touch.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/ScEUpV5GXyI/AAAAAAAABC0/yIYJu1EL5FA/s1600-h/Am+Baby+Finished.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314551735757725474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 100px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/ScEUpV5GXyI/AAAAAAAABC0/yIYJu1EL5FA/s200/Am+Baby+Finished.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">American Baby</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">by Willow Hill Samplings</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">28-ct Heritage by Picture This Plus</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">GAST</span> and Crescent Colours Floss</span></div><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Have been spending a lot of time stitching on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">LHN</span> "From Sea to Shining Sea". The first photo was taken on March 8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span>. Had plans to do an update around that time. Then something happened and I did not get it done. This was a few days after I worked the election board for the city election when I knew I would have plenty of time to stitch. For a 12-hour day working the election we had a total of 32 voters. Very slow day. The most we had in one hour was 7 voters. Got to get quite a bit of stitching done.</span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/ScEUH4bBuLI/AAAAAAAABCs/42_9sV6LgAI/s1600-h/From+Sea+8.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314551160911280306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 118px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/ScEUH4bBuLI/AAAAAAAABCs/42_9sV6LgAI/s200/From+Sea+8.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">This photo was taken after a weekend of stitching at Heartland Stitch-In 2009. It is a weekend camp sponsored by Heartland Stitch Counters Society out of Leavenworth, Kansas. Usually they have a designer come in for the weekend. This year they decided to have no designer and make it a relaxing weekend to just stitch on whatever you wanted. I was able to finish part 3 and make a good start on part 4. Got a little more border done. </span><br /></p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/ScETZXybQII/AAAAAAAABCk/9tUrAvjYaMM/s1600-h/From+Sea+9.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314550361877069954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 100px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/ScETZXybQII/AAAAAAAABCk/9tUrAvjYaMM/s200/From+Sea+9.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="justify"></a><span style="font-family:arial;">The weekend stitch-in was great fun. It had a 50's theme and was decorated accordingly. Everyone won a door prize and was given a chance to delve into the big grab bag barrel. Lot of fun, good food and stitching was going on for the entire weekend. I had a very pleasant surprise too. A friend that I had met at another camp in 1995 was there. We had not seen each other for at least 5 years. We had gone to the other camp together for several years. She is from Arkansas and although we had each other's contact information, we had not kept in contact. Tammy it was so good to reconnect with you. The camp where Tammy and I met was the first camp for each of us and the other stitching friend with me. We really connected since we all showed up with a small stitching bag and a pair of scissors and everyone else in the room had big magnifying lights, special chairs, and lots of bags. We soon learned that you practically move your stitching nest with you to camp. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">LOL</span>! Along with seeing Tammy again, I made friends with 3 other <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">stitchers</span> from Texas. Thanks, Wanda, Eileen and Helen for a great weekend and we will do it again next year. Actually, Wanda came into the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">LNS</span> when I was working on Thursday and during the course of the conversation, we found out that we were both going to the same camp the next day. Then we sat at the same table for the weekend. Have already had e-mails from both Tammy and Wanda, since this weekend. Stitching friends are the best friends. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Michele-<a href="http://xmarksmyspot.blogspot.com/">X Marks The Spot </a>made a "Special Friends" award to me several weeks back and I am just getting around to thanking her. The description for this award reads "These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">bloggers</span> aim to be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these kind writers. When you pass the award along please include these guidelines. I am to choose eight friends to share this with." Receiving this award is very special because it states that just exactly how I feel about my blogging and stitching friends and why I do this. Thanks, Michelle.</span><a href="http://xmarksmyspot.blogspot.com/"></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314549539097563282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 160px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3TZOVlYQRGU/ScESpesgUJI/AAAAAAAABCc/R5Eyx-1f650/s200/Special+Friends+Award.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="justify"></a><span style="font-family:arial;">I am not sure that I can choose only 8 people to pass this award on to. There are so many special friends in my stitching blogging world and many have already received this award, so I think I will just leave it at that. That way I don't have to make the choices and leave off some deserving ones.</span> </p><p align="justify">Still working on a design model for The Sunflower Seed and will continue on From Sea to Shining Sea. Had a little visit from the frog on the SS design, but have it fixed and moved on. Should have it done by the end of the week. Preparations are in full swing for the Shop Hop that the Sunflower Seed participates in that is April 30<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">th</span>, May 1st and 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">nd</span>. Hopefully I can have From Sea done before then. Today I am off to a meeting at the church and then more stitching later.</p><p align="justify">Happy Stitching.</p><p align="justify"> </p></span>Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03129782982079230707noreply@blogger.com12