Christmas Finish

I gave myself a mini Christmas present and got a project completed on the 25th!  (11:30pm something so just barely got it done)

Stained Glass Pine

This was one of the crazy 2011 January challenges I got into.  Then it made it into this years WIPocalypse challenge (which only works if you work on your projects!).   Yea for getting finished!

Renaissance Angel

Another mini happy dance – The angel is complete!  Now for the fiddly bits on the sides.

I got quite a bit finished on the angel this week.  Wings, outline, beading (on her) and any other final x's.  So the small happy dance for getting her done :-)

Now its the fiddly bits on the sides and deciding what I want to do for the halo rays (stick with suggested thread or use rainbow cord).  The fiddly bits are driving me batty so its back in the grounded pile until I have more patience to deal with them.

Before

After

Off to see if I can get another small-ish project finished for 2012…

IHSW & WIP Wed

I was able to join in IHSW this weekend, even with taking a day to visit with family.

I spent most of the weekend adding to my hex pile, as of Sunday I had 12 completed.  Ive slowed down and have only added 2 more since then.  Here is a pic of 13 completed hex

Only combo missing is black/purple.  Personally, Im not liking the combos and will make the black/purple to make everything even (one of each) and concentrate on solids going forward.

I also pulled out two cross stitch projects and added a length of string to each.

Renaissance Angel

Snowy Christmas Quaker Style

Hope others had a good IHSW weekend and good luck on all your WIPs

Mish-mash

Is it wrong to dislike what may be the last bit of good weather of summer?  I was placed in such a good fall mood last week that I'm missing the dreary grey clouds and mist/rain. We now have wonderful sun, not too hot, almost breezy for a light sweater or jacket.

The acts of forgetting most needed items for school have begun. Elder son forgot to tell or remind me of at lest two things last week (which resulted in lots of driving around looking for elusive heffalumps) and already missing items this week (it's only Monday!!). I'm waiting for son #2 to start in...  And Boy #1 made my point again tonight!  Thankfully it didnt involve any gasoline (good thing as Ive already changed into my not-going-anywhere-else-comfy-clothes) but did involve raking my brain to remember milestones of his life so far.  Bad mom that I am I dont have baby books for either of my kids.  Nor do I scrapbook (although thanks to my awesome mil they each have one).  What I do have is a somewhat ok memory.  And I was able to pull some funny tidbits out of my brain, first airplane ride, first tooth, first camping trip and so on.  Also added some sad ones such as Homer (cat – first pet) passing last year and the first person he knew personally passing away 5 years ago (My paternal grandma).  More than enough to get his brain going.

Stitchy update – I found the camera!  And no it hadnt been put away, just hidden under computer stuff.

First off, thank you so much for your wonderful comments on Indian Summer.  Im happy to be able to share a fun project with others, see what others have done with their fabric and thread choices and finishes.  I had the fabric picked for the BBD Halloween stockings but it was perfect for this as well.

Three Gables – Last time I worked on this was late last fall.  Poor thing was practically screaming for x’s to be added.  As Im doing filler work, this is my current train project

Renaissance Angel – Shes had more recent x’s added (March) but she was also started after Three Gables.  I was able to finish her, need to work on the wings and bs and she will be done.  Then its the fiddly-bits on either side.  Lots of satin stitches and those are taking much thinking (and painful at that)

Quaker Stocking – not much was added, was trying to stitch on this while on the train back from PAX, too much jostling and the thread was wanting to knot up in the worst way.

That is all for now as its already time for bed (Where does time fly to?)

Family

Spent most of the day with the parents and my sister’s family.  Started with lunch at Sweet Tomatoes and ended with dinner at sister’s house.  Great time was had by the kids, they were running around, playing the Wii and just being plain silly.  Us adults were able to get in 2 games of Catan and then I got sat down to look through trip pictures.  Sister and BIL went to Hawaii to visit our cousin who is currently stationed there (He is a Gunnery Sergeant).  Looks like they had a great time.

I finished one color of the pumpkins on Midnight Watch while the Catan games were going on.  I wasnt able to concentrate on the game due to allergies. 

What is it about getting older and finding out things that were normal and ok are now wanting to wish for death?  I was fine Friday but by Sat morning I was ready to die.  My head is completely stuffed up and the sneezes!  Gads!  Im glad I keep socks on or I would have sneezed off my toes Sat afternoon. (D has said there may have been dogs hear me sneeze in China – such a loving Hubby)

Stitchy updates!

I have pictures :o)

Midnight Watch

Renaissance Angel – Beads have been added to her skirt, I couldnt wait :o)

PS Alphabet Letter A – Ive changed colors and will post the final list when the letter being stitched is complete.

 

Hope everyone had a great weekend.  Im off to try and to get my nose working.

Update**  Gotta love breath right strips.  So far so good.

My traveling friend

Taking my keys out of my back-back and what do i spy?

This is what happens to rattle mice after Loki does his version of “John the Baptist” (at least 8+ times by the look of this poor fellow).  No clue how it made its way into the little pocket I use for my keys.  What can I say, Im impressed.  Loki was very happy to be playing with it again.

Now for some stitch updates

Tanglewood

Renaissance Angel

Mother Maya

 

Midnight Watch

Now off to enjoy some girl-scout cookies (mmm samoas…)

Smok’n needle

An update on the “Valentine’s Day”  P is pretty pleased with himself.  They exchanged cards on the bus (less friend involvement I guess) and he gave her the flower and got a hug in return.  According to P, she carried the flower with her all day – guess the word is out now that they are a couple :op

Now for some stitchy updates

What a difference a day makes eh?  I had a good Monday.  First time in a week I felt human.  Oh Im still a good mucus producing factory (TMI?) but dont feel like a third person in my own head.

Renaissance Angel – Her skirt is all stitched and ready for beads.  Column 3 of motifs is almost complete – shy a handful of stitches (ran out of thread at the last…).  Im working on completing the bottom part of her dress to finish off the satin-stitches of the hem.

Midnight Watch – More of the moon is complete.  Still a great filler for train rides.

Other projects – I changed the fabric for PS Alphabet.  Got a nice 32ct Queen Anne’s Lace Jobelan.  Works wonderfully with the colors Ive picked out.  I was not looking forward to changing the colors.  Took too long to settle on the ones I did!  Not sure when I will get this re(re-re-re)started but its kitted and ready to go.

The Long Winter

With all the snow thats been dumping has me remembering parts of the Laura Inglles Wilder book - “The Long Winter” where “Pa” was told that there would be 7 months of blizzards.

A bit added drama for reading but when ever it snows as much has it has been, and for so long (didnt this start in Oct for some?) I always think of that book.

Today I did one of the smartest things ever.  Took a wonderful long nap and woke up feeling much better.  Still thankful I have tomorrow off for more resting.

Im hoping to feel up to doing some baking with the boys.  P was upset that the cooking part of home-ec  was cut short due to kids deciding to not pay attention and goof-off.  I found some coffee-cake recipes to try out.  He does a great job helping me cook dinner but cooking is different than baking :o)

Here is my update on Renaissance Angel

The picture is pretty close to the true color of the fabric I chose.  Its a fun project to stitch on.

She likes walking in the dew

or thats what the pattern tells me  :o)

 

The beading is about 1/2 complete and I have a week + before I need to have it framed and wrapped!

I have a few other updates as well

Bethlehem 2.0 (stitching for my sister)

Renaissance Angel

And a new start Ink Circle’s Mother Maya

Watching Iron Chef America

can be a dangerous thing.  Battle Egg Nog was last night and all it took was for me to see Egg Nog french toast and I was off to the store.  Made it for me and the boys this morning and what a hit!

I continued the cooking theme this morning and made 3 batches of cookies (over 150).  German Chocolate, Chinese Almond and Sprits. (all recipes can be found in Taste of Home Baking cookbook)

Ive been working more on Nora’s Letter K this week.

Update on Renaissance Angel.  I commented that I was going all over the place with this one.  Added the satin stitches on the side and the red x’s towards the bottom to help with the counting.  Hope Ive got the numbering correct before I really get stated on the other parts of the sides.  Wouldnt be fun to rip out.

Taking a break on cookie baking, Will maybe get some refrigerated cookies started so they can be baked next weekend.

D completed our Christmas present, 1/2 of our closet – the hanging side.  We’ve been using our closet area for folded clothes, his in a dresser and mine in wire bins, and all the hanging stuff had taken over the boy’s closets.  Now all of our hanging stuff is in our closet, gave the boys a big chunk of space back.  We also have a long shelf for all our shoes so they arent al over the place.  A nice new place for the duo of chaos to find hiding places :op

The next 1/2 we will hopefully get towards the end of the month for our Anniversary present :o)

With the change to the closet areas, we are taking the time to thin the piles down.  Nice things are going to the school district’s Clothes Closet for kids k-12.  I have a better feeling donating them there than to Goodwill and hope someone can/will use them.

Thanks for stopping by

Time to relax

I had a good week and a day off.  While some days were a bit bothersome (I logged into work) and Thursday was down right long, I think Ive recovered enough to work three whole days.  Cant wait til Friday and another day off!

I love this time of year – manly for the time off I try and schedule.  Starting Thanksgiving week, then all Fridays in December and the last week of the year.  Helps make my holiday prep a bit smoother and easier to deal with.

This weekend I found the 3m thing-a-majigs to hang up lights on the house.  My fingers are crossed that Friday keeps the promise of being at least non-rainy so I can get them up.  No tree this year due to the duo of chaos.  No one will be home during the days to keep them off the tree.  So I hope I can still hang lights.

Stitchy stuff

I was able to spend some of my time off stitching.

Nora’s Letter K – not much was added to this project (bad me) but I have a reason

Meet my new project Renaissance Angel

Most of what you see was stitched Friday & Sat with a small bit added last night.  So far its been fun and quick to stitch.

Now Tanglewood – I was able to add a bit to this thx to Tuesday at A&T was Ink Circle/Drawn Thread night

Well, back to adding a bit more to K while watching D play Assassins Creed II and watching Celtic Women on OPB. 

Thanks for stopping by

Bad, bad, bad

Thats me.  Im trying, really trying to be good and not get any more stash until after Christmas but this chart has been screaming at me since I got the JCS Dec 08 mag last year and I just couldnt take it any more!

Isnt she just beautiful?  Im using 32ct Belfast Smokey Pearl linen, DMC threads and petite beads. 

Im exchanging some x’s for beads, the green bits around her and in the bottom part of the dress, the reds along the side.  I cant wait to get started.

Other than getting more stash, I was able to add more to Nora’s K today.  Pic will be hopefully posted tomorrow.

Tomorrow will be a busy day for me as I will be getting food stuffs ready for cooking tomorrow.  The feast includes a brined turkey, stuffing, loaded mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry-apple-ginger chutney, green bean casserole, andes mint cookies, marion berry pie.  The pie I bought as I cant make a crust to save my ass from a fire.  Everything else will be made by yours truly.  Most of the recipes I got from the Food Network as we made the mistake (fortune?) of watching the 10 most wanted Thanksgiving recipes.

Tomorrow I will be brining the turkey, cooking the chutney and baking cookies.  I may peel the potatoes in prep for cooking Thursday – one less thing to get done as well as chop carrots & celery and anything else that can be cut up and get ready early for Thanksgiving.