Stitching update

 Here is what I am working on at the moment, a little mix of everything.

First is HOHOHO Quick It from Lizzie Kate, only because I know I have to do some Christmas stitching as something always comes up that I require something for.

And my Ink Circles four seasons mandalas that I am stitching with my stitching sisters.

Sorry this one is "on its side", but it is a Christmas row by Lizzie Kate - that I will probably get done in time for Christmas ... next year, or the year after.

And last but not least my Country houses SAL, and all the pattern is now out and I'm way behind, but I'm still in love with it so the longer the actual stitching last, the better.  If you want to see what it will look like when I'm done, it is posted here.

Start and finish

I started and finished something today. Which is more than can be said for the rest of this week as I've been down and out with the flu (even lost track of two days somehow) and this is what I was greated with this morning...

Yup, that would be my kitchen that looks like no one else loves it, so I started cleaning and here is where it ended up.

Much better.

I baked a loaf of bread in the breadmaker, did about 8 loads of laundry and now I'm ready to crash.

But I did get some stitching done this week, when I had the energy I was working on this little beauty.

Started Jan 2 - finished Jan 8, 2011

Lizzie * Kate - Time for God

stitched with recommended overdyed threads on a silkweaver solo 32ct belfast linen.

I'll leave you with a shot of the beautiful flowers that Dani and Todd brought on Dec 31st...so 9 days ago and still going strong!

Lots of stitching....

So my weekend away was lovely...surprising Ann for her birthday was priceless and instead of boring you with the details I'll show you what I accomplished. First up are the three little ones that I started and finished over the course of the weekend... Upclose of the butterfly to show you the lovely colours in the varigated thread I used. This would have shown up better on white or black but I worked with what I had, the three little ones are all stitched on the same piece of fabric :-) "far out" shot of the butterfly... A Lizzie * Kate freebie from their website... And the three little spookies.... Since getting home I've been working on my Spirit of Christmas...the purple highlighter is where I was as of last night.

So life is busy, work is crazy and of course this weekend is Easter. Looks like I got voted as the host of Easter Sunday as the inlaws are coming over for church in the morning, Cameron will be getting his service cross and it is something they don't want to miss.

Stitching this week is on my Growth Rings and a little that is of tulips I picked up out of my stash last night so I should have more updates for you shortly.

Wow - it has been awhile

So life get busy and the first thing to slip seems to be blogging, but then when I get time there seems to be so much to tell everyone that it is overwhelming and I don't know where to start.

So I'll start with November retreat. I had a fabulous time as always and my Mom and I always love going together, it is our new tradition every year. So here are a few photos I took while we were there.

Marie Paul working away...

Debbie ...

Ann, Nan and Dani

Barb and Sheila

And the fireplace was a lovely addition...

And the other exciting news is that I went and picked the wolves up from the framers and they are now proudly hanging in our livingroom. DH has decided that they need more light and plans on installing a pot light above to give them more umph! And yes, my livingroom walls are really that green - LOL!

And I have been stitching on lots of other things as well, my L*K Living with Charm is done, just filling in a couple of spots here and there, my Little Green is almost done and ready to gift to my friend Patti, I re-started the bass for my DH, and I've started the Spirit of Christmas again.

And I almost forgot, I completed this little towel for someone for Christmas...

Hope everyone is gearing up for the holidays, we are just starting to get in the swing of things at our house.

The wolves....

But first, I started stitching the Lizzie*Kate Living with Charm for the second time, and I am enjoying this as much as I was the first time! Here is my progress thus far.... And I have pulled the wolves out to see the light of day again. My goal is to have these done in time to give to my DH for our 10th wedding anniversary in September...I had better get stitching!

Flowers and photos

First I wanted to show the lovely arrangement of flowers that I took with me to retreat that arrived a little early for my birthday from my friends in the UK...the funny thing is, today (April 1st) is my birthday and I received the exact same arrangement with the same card and message again today! I think the flower shop may have gotten a little mixed up but I'm not complaining, as long as my friends were not charged twice. Then while I was at retreat I finished this little beauty that I plan on putting up somewhere in my house, this will be the very first stitching hanging in my house done by me...the first of many I hope!

While there I also put a few stitches in my Godmother...

I also brought along this recent finish which is headed off to a friend, as soon as I get it finished into a cube.

And my new start for the weekend (and what I've gotten a little more done on since coming home) which is L*K's Living With Charm, which I have stitched on black already and now I'm stitching it again on the lighter fabric with the recommended threads.

It is raining today here, but I'm looking forward to lunch out with a friend and then home for the evening with my family. I hope everyone has a wonder APRIL FOOLS!

P.S. I'm not fooling that it is my birthday, you can check...

OMG, you won't believe me but...

I HAVE A FINISH! An honest to goodness finish. I completed my Lizzie * Kate Living with Charms Flip-its on Sunday evening as well as stitching on the charms. I love how it turned out and I have to admit it looks much nicer in person.

So on to the next one, I've decided to try and get all my WIP's closer to being finnished before starting something new so my poor hubby's wolves on black have migrated back to my stitching chair, but I will have to find something new to start stitching on the bus again...a small, so I can have another finish in the near future. Maybe I should find something to get done in time for Christmas...I'll have to cruise the stash tonight and see what I can come up with. Lizzie * Kate Living with Charm Flip-its Stitched on Black 28ct Jubilee Using DMC's of my choice Started February 23rd, 2008 - Completed August 17th, 2008 Until next time...stitch, stitch, and stitch some more!

It is Thurdsay....

did it really take me until Thursday to write about the weekend - SCARY!

We had a wonderful time. My friend Beth from Kingston had her DH drop her off in the late morning. We chatted and setup for some stitching. Lunch time arrived, and I served -

Ricotta Spinach Quiche

1 container light ricotta cheese (454g)

2 large eggs

1/4 cup light parmesan cheese

1/4 cup minced onion

1 clove crushed garlic

1 pkg frozen spinach cooked according to directions (I used 4 cups fresh, lightly steamed)

salt and pepper

1 pre-made pie shell (not baked) - I use tenderflake from the grocery store

Pre-heat oven and pie shell to 400 degree. Mix everything else together and pour into pre-heated pie shell. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes and then turn down to 325 degrees for 45 - 60 minutes until a knife insert in the the center comes out clean.

I served this with a fresh tomato, onion (vidalia) and mini cucumber salad.

Dessert was fresh raspberries and blackberries on pound cake with fat free cool whip.

Marg from TO arrived around 2pm, so we chatted while she munched on lunch. Then into the livingroom for some WIP viewing and finish sharing...and stitching. I unfortunately did not get a photo of Beth, or her stitching! I did get one of the lady herself and a couple of Marg's beautiful Austrialian alphabet and hopefully she won't mind me posting them here...

They are stunning in person!

My DH arrived home early on Saturday, unfortunately Beth wasn't able to stay but DH made us a beautiful beer can chicken, grilled vegetables and broccoli salad. Again, fresh fruit, cake and cool whip for dessert.

We stitched until about 11pm, while watching The Bee Movie and chatting away. We slept late on Sunday, did some more stitching and enjoyed a quick breakfast to get back to more stitching! I dragged my stash out...we had a peek and then back to stitching. Lunch was leftover everything from the day before.

Marg packed up and headed back to TO around 2:30-3pm and I ventured off to collect my children.

Here is my before shot of my stitching ...

And my after shot...

I had a wonderful time and hopefully the next one will draw some more bodies. I'll let you know when the next one is booked!

WOW, what a time!

***NOTE, I wrote this on Sunday and it has taken me until today (FRIDAY) to get that one lonely photo up and loaded - talk about a busy time right now!***

So as I stated before I was on holidays/vacation from work for the last two weeks as we had our wonderful friends Frank and Siobhan (pronounced Shiv-on) here with us from Watford England. A little background information, we met Frank and Shiv in February 2000 while my DH and I were on our honeymoon and they were here on vacation. Frank and Shiv have been back each year since at least once and we even commented that when they first starting coming it was just the four of us and our furry Tasha, now there are us, them and the two boys, and our travels are headed in a different direction now while they are here. Before we used to hit the bars and pubs and now we are thinking for their next visit interesting places like the Playtrium (indoor play structure) and the Ontario Science Centre! Funny how life changes!

There will be pictures, once Siobhan sends them, we decided to not take our camera and instead have them sent via email once life is back to somewhat normal across the pond as well. But I do have one photo to share, I've been working on my L*K's on black as much as I could so here is a progress picture to share...I'm just waiting on the next instalment to arrive so I can get them done as well.

Hope all is well where you are....

Nothing special today...

Today I'm celebrating my 31st birthday. Nothing special planned, our company from England is taking me out for lunch (because Cameron is at school today and it will be a much quieter, easy time with just Caleb) and that is about it. DH is away for work this week, not that he would have planned anything anyways. I'm hoping to spend some quality time with my L*K double flips on black and finish up 'remember' and then complete 'give'...I'll post pictures soon. I'm still waiting for the fabric from Mindy of Sugarmaple so I can stitch it again on a lighter colour. I've almost given up and if I don't see the fabric by the end of next week I will put in an order somewhere else.

*~* Hope everyone has a wonderful stitching day! *~*

I was "Dream"ing this weekend

Lizzie *Kate Double Flips 2008 DREAM 28 ct Black Jubilee Stitched using whatever DMC I felt like :-)

I'm still waiting for my Northern Skies to arrive from Sugar Maple Fabrics and I have the thread pack all ready to go for it, but I couldn't wait! I had this piece of fabric and thought it would make an interesting contrast...so we will see when I get this one done if I decide to go it again with my other fabric and recommended threads. This was a quick easy stitch and I may even tackle "LOVE" today!