TUSAL and stitching

All my lovely ORTS from this month...as crazy as life has been, I have been stitching...here are my threads...

And this is what I have been stitching...

Quilt squares for Dani (three done, one to go)

My sepia tones baby....getting there...

And last but not least the wedding piece for the upcoming nupitals on the weekend. Just the names and date to add.

So stitching is happening...slowly but surely.

Wedding present...

I stitched this piece awhile ago (end of 2008) and the wedding was this weekend. The piece returned from the framers on Friday! Talk about cutting it close! And here is a photo of the lovely bride and groom.

I'm alive

This will end up being short and sweet, I have no pictures and I have not been stitching. But I am here, swamped at work and just realising that I have A LOT happening between now and the end of the year. I've been visiting all my online friends and leaving comments where I can, I hope to have things sorted and slowed down shortly, if not, then I may not be above water again until the new year! Stay tuned, I have a couple new events happening that will require stitching but I'm not allowed to spill the beans yet (and neither one has anything to do with me, so don't be thinking it!).

Some stitching from the past...

I was thinking the other day about some of the projects I had done in the past before I started blogging and while I was looking for a graphic for work on my harddrive today I found the following photo and thought I would share.

The Wedding Gift Great Bear Canada Stitched on Navy Aida with DMC threads

This was a wedding present for friends and even though the photo isn't the best, I framed it in a gold toned frame and they LOVED it.

This is one pattern that I would stitch again if I had another couple that I thought would appreciate all the work.

I'm getting ready for the weekend, and it is only Wednesday!

My Mom and I are headed away this weekend to a whole weekend of eating, stitching, eating, chatting and of course, eating! I'm so looking forward to it and can't wait to see some of the friends I met earlier this year and didn't really get a chance to sit and chat with them. I'm not sure what I will be stitching on but I think it will mostly be my "Blessed are the children of quilters...." as my grandmother will be celebrating her 85th birthday at the end of the month and I thought it would be nice to have it completed for that. I've almost completed the additional words, names and dates to the "And they lived happily ever after" for my brother and sister-in-law so all that will need to be done is a cleaning, pressing and bead application and it is ready for the framers. I have a question - would it be rude of me to give them $100.00 and tell them to go and do the framing themselves? I only ask because my SIL's Mom does framing at a shop and I really don't interact with them (the four + hour drive is a bit much for some framing) so I thought they could pick what they wanted and have it done for them so that they get what they want....does that makes sense?

No camera :-(

I feel bad that I haven't updated about anything...for over a week. My camera is on the fritz and I always think that photos help make a post. So, here is a post, and it does have pictures! These are pictures that others have taken and sent to me. My friend whom I stitched the Apache Wedding Blessing for sent me a wonderful email and included pictures of the piece, which she has had matted and framed! Here is one close up... And the matte (outer a dark chocolate brown with a leathered look and the inner highlight a brick colour) and frame (honey oak)...

And one of the piece hanging on the wall in the prize location at the end of the hall...

Our 8th Anniversary

DH and I are celebrating our 8th wedding anniversary today....he is at home with the kids - I'm at work...great celebration. But I shouldn't say that because it has been FOREVER since we made plans and went out and did anything just the two of us and tonight, we are going out, just the two of us! I've wanted to see this show THE NUMBER 14 so, tonight is the night. My parents are booked to watch the kids and we are going to go out and enjoy the evening. And because I know everyone loves photos, here is my DH Curtis and I on our wedding day.

September 11th, 1999

Don't we look like babies! Wow, time sure does fly...

And one from my brothers wedding just at the beginning of July - not very big, sorry...

WIP update

Well, it has been awhile since everyone has seen my actual stitching so I took the time the other day to scan all the pieces I'm working on (because my camera seems to be on the fritz) and here they are for you to look over....you will see a couple that I haven't put online very often and don't really work on much but I will get to them, at some point.

Happily Ever After

Waiting for direction from my brother and sister-in-law as to what else they would like and then stitching that and adding the beads.

Fall Y'All Which I am stitching for myself and hope to get done in the next couple of weeks so I can get it ready to hang for the end of September.

Quilted Quips I've just started this piece which will be a present for my MIL or my grandmother, depending on how fast it stitches up. Here is the actual pattern front as well as the little bit I have done.

Cross Stitch Crazy Which will also be something for myself to hang over my chair where I sit and stitch. Again, the actual pattern front as well as what I have done.

Spirit of Christmas I don't think I will have this one done before Christmas this year, but maybe next year!

And last but not least....

WOLVES ON BLACK This has been my focus piece and I did get a fair amount stitched on the tree trunk at the weekend getaway at Ann's last weekend.

Updated photo

I had more comments this past weekend from my stitchy friends about how I looked nothing like the picture I had on here that I thought I would put a much newer one up. This is me at my brothers wedding at the beginning of July. If you still don't think it looks like me than I may just have to go cut my head off of the picture that Beatrice took of me this past weekend! The other beautiful stitcher sitting with me in the photo is Chrisanne...

The Wedding...

I don't have a lot of time today, work is busy so I thought I would let everyone have a quick peek at some photos to tide them over....

David and Sarah signing at the churchCameron giving Aunt Sarah a flower he picked from the garden My family

Myself, my Dad - Bryan, Sarah, David and my Mom - Sylvia

Caleb, Hubby, Sarah, David, Myself and Cameron A tired Cameron

The Whole Wedding Party The Girls and Groom Wedding Party on stairs THE DRESS My hubby in the taxi

The count down is on....

So only four days to go! I'm in the packing, stressing part at the moment and my brother just threw another wrench in things, I now have to do a reading at the ceremony! Here it is: Song of Solomon 2: 8-10,14,16a. 8:6-7a The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills. My beloved speaks and says to me: "Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, 'in the covert of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is comely. My beloved is mine and I am his. Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, jealousy is cruel as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. I've got four days...wish me luck! OH AND SHOES! I didn't find new ones but I found leather dye and the ones I purchased orginally....are now silver!

OMG I've been sick...

So sick that DH even commented that I have not put a needle in anything for almost a week now! I came down with...how do you say this...liquids pouring from places they are not supposed to and food is supposed to stay down, not come up...nuf said. That was Friday night and most of Saturday. Today is Wednesday and things as still, unsettled to a point. So, if you see no process pictures or are family that figured you would have seen my DH and I at the wedding on Saturday night, I'm sorry it was all my fault we missed it. And the dress fitting...we are hoping to get that done this afternoon, the bonus of being sick is I'm down about 10 pounds so the dress should fit better! Here's hoping today is better....

I have been stitching...

I've been terrible about posting lately but here is an update. You can read all about my wonderful weekend (June 9th and 10th) away stitching on Dani's blog...she pretty much sums up the whole weekend and there is also a photo of Dani, myself and Lynn there for you to enjoy. So on that wonderful, relaxing weekend hosted by Lynn I worked on the project that I have been putting on the back burner which is for my husband. It is a pair of wolves on black and here is my before photo (not very clear but the best of the ones I took): And here is what got done that weekend:

I also worked on my Fall Y'All, the scarecrow now has pants! But I loved the time away, just relaxing with friends.

Now I am still waiting for an order from Stitching Bits and Bobs that includes more Razzleberry thread so I can finish my brother and wife-to-be's Happily Ever After.

And for those of you following the dress/shoe saga, the dress is getting fitted at the moment. I had my first fitting on Saturday and another this weekend coming and I'm still hunting for shoes.....

Just a little HIP HIP HORRAY!

Just a little note, my brother called this afternoon and my dress has left the post office, it was shipped priority and should arrive at my office on Wednesday...now to find some shoes....

Busy, Busy, Busy

So life is moving at warp speed at the moment and I am keeping up...just barely!

First, I wanted to send out another THANK YOU to Kim (http://www.upnorthxstitching.blogspot.com/) as my beautiful Q-Snap Huggers arrived in the post yesterday. Anyone who has not taken at look at these yet should do so, Kim does a beautiful job - Q-Snap Huggers

So working full-time with two kids is a feat of logisitics! For instance, today (Thursday) I was up at 5:45am and got me ready for work. I got the kids up and to the sitters for 7:15am...into work for 8:30am. I'm here until 4:30pm and at that time I'm high tailing for home to pick up the kids and head directly to the soccer field for a game at 6:00pm. Then home and to bed. I hope.

But the kids love the sitter and my mornings actually go pretty smooth. It is the after work and evening time that doesn't seem to slow down...and that is cutting into my stitching time greatly! I do have pictures but they are at home on the computer so I will add them at some point when I have a spare moment at home.

This weekend will be busy as well because we are heading to Niagara Falls again for the Stag and Doe celebration for my brother and his wife-to-be. And hopefully my dress is in as we only have a little more than a month to go and I'm sure mine will need a bunch of alterations. I do have a picture of the dress....and it is even in the right colour!

So, busy, busy, busy but we are getting through and we are looking forward to a weekend somewhere that we don't have a whole lot of plans...oh yea! I have the weekend of June 9th and 10th booked to go to a friends all by my lonesome and we are going to stitch up a storm!

A wonderful weekend!

Lynn J and I had a wonderful weekend. We ate, we stitched and we ate some more. A few cocktails were involved and we accomplished a lot of stitching as well. Lynn even snapped a picture of Caleb trying to get in on the stitching action! It was very cute, if not hard on my pattern. And just before leaving Lynn took a great shot of Caleb and I so I thought I would share.

I promised Lynn I would post the recipes I used so here goes, unfortunately I didn't take any pictures so you will have to take our word that all of it was good. Hamburger Soup From: Taste of Home's, 2003 Quick Cooking Annual Recipes

1-1/2 pounds ground beef 2 cups diced onion 1 cup diced carrots 1 cup diced celery 3 garlic cloves, minced 3 can (14-1/2 ounces each) chicken broth 1 can (15 ounces) crushed tomatoes 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce 1/4 cup margarine 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

In a large saucepan or soup kettle, cook the beef, onions, carrots, celery and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink and vegetables are tender; drain. Stir in broth, tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce and hot pepper sauce. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes.

In another saucepan, melt margarine over medium-low heat. Stir in flour until smooth. Cook and stir for 6-8 minutes or until mixture turns golden brown. Carefully stir into soup. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

I took a few detours from this but it turned out well. I didn't have crushed tomato so I used diced and in the end added a can of tomato paste to get that tomato flavour. It also turned out a lot thicker than a soup, closer to a chili which was really good with the fresh buns I had purchased. Caleb LOVED it and is still helping me eat up the leftovers.

*****

I made a throw together version of these, I don't measure anymore and just throw it together but here is the recipe I found!

Land of Nod Cinnamon Buns From: All Recipes SUBMITTED BY: Shannon "Easy over night cinnamon buns that are gooey and rich." Original recipe yield: 20 servings PREP TIME: 10 Min COOK TIME: 25 Min READY IN: 15 Hrs

INGREDIENTS 20 unbaked frozen dinner rolls 1 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup instant vanilla pudding mix 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 3/4 cup raisins 1/3 cup butter, melted

DIRECTIONS Lightly grease a 10 inch Bundt cake pan. Place frozen rolls into pan and sprinkle with brown sugar, pudding mix, ground cinnamon and raisins. Pour melted butter over rolls. Cover with a clean, damp cloth and leave overnight at room temperature. In the morning, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake rolls for 25 minutes, until golden brown. Turn rolls out onto a serving plate and serve warm.

*****

And last but not least was the cake I served with a slowcooker roast for supper. I put a piece in the bottom of a bowl, added a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of butterscotch sauce!

Apple Spice Snack Cake From: Taste of Home's, 2003 Quick Cooking Annual Recipes 1 package (18-1/4 ounces) spice cake mix 1 can (21 ounces) apple pie filling 2 eggs 2 tablespoons vegetable oil In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

*****

And now for the stitching news! Here is a picture of what I accomplished during the weekend. It is a pattern by Sisters & Best Friends called Happily Ever After and it is being stitched on Silkweaver's Spring Garden, 28ct Cashel Linen with Crescent Colours and Sampler Threads for my brother and his wife-2-be. No before shot, it was a brand new start.

One of my biggest happy dances EVER!

Well, can you tell from the title and this photo what I'm celebrating?

Yes, I have completed the Apache Wedding Blessing!

I'm so excited and a little drunk at the moment!

This was a kit from Janlynn

Design size: 15 in x 14 in (38 cm x 35.6 cm)

Stitched on the 14-count AIDA and floss that was provided in the kit.

*****

And on another note I think my boy was tired tonight after his first day back to school from spring break as well as skating lessons....I was putting Caleb to bed, was coming back into the livingroom to read Cameron a book and this is where I found him.

I didn't have the heart to wake him so I carried all 56 pounds of him to his bed and tucked him in for the night...nighty night all.

My 100th post!

Hard to believe that in 9 months I’ve created 100 entries here. Thank you to everyone the reads and enjoys the entries even if you don’t post comments (*wink to Anna). I was debating all day as to what I was going to post about for this special entry and decided to post about what I always post about, my boys, stitching and cooking/baking. Oh if you were interested, here is "The First Post" I did.

Cameron is off for his spring break and already; three days in I’m ready to ship him off…to anywhere. Actually, I got smart and stock piled some cheap toys from the dollar store to keep him happy and at the moment he is playing with his Play-Doh for the first time in about 6 months. I took it away from him because he refused to pick it up when he was done, so this time he has promised me he will at least help clean up or it will disappear again.

Caleb is the ever-happy boy (or cheeky monkey as we call him). Growing by leaps and bounds each and every day. Currently he is trying to master how to drink from a bottle as well as how to stand holding anything so he will soon be walking/running and wrecking havoc on our lives…look out big brother, your toys are no longer safe!

Stitching, I have been doing some of that! I finished the three Lizzie Kate freebies and created a border around them as suggested by Kali, got them done and given to my MIL…without a picture taken! Oh well, my FIL has agreed to create a frame for the piece so I will be sure to take a picture once it is hanging on the wall of their home. And as of 3pm Saturday, March 10th I have completed ALL OF THE BACKSTITCH on the Apache Wedding Blessing!

HAPPY DANCE! Now I have to add the verse, wash and press it and then figure out how to ship it out to my friends in British Columbia. I’m also sending along the $$$ for them to have it framed out there to match the décor of their new home. Then it is on to the Happily Ever After piece for my brother and his wife-to-be who are tying the knot in less than 4 months! I received the fabric (Spring Garden, Silkweaver) and the threads are on order from Stitching Bits and Bobs. I’m still working on my Housework Whenever project and I think I have to get the wolves some light of day as well before my DH asks me again when that (not so) little project should be done. And of course there are countless others that I would like to sink my needle into. Cooking/baking…well we have been eating but I have been freelancing our meals without using a recipe. This has been a staple for the last few nights as I got broccoli for the basement bargain price of $0.66 a bunch! Broccoli Cauliflower Salad 1 head broccoli, cup up in bite sized pieces ½ head of cauliflower, cup up in bite sized pieces ½ red onion, diced ½ cup grated sharp cheddar ½ cup crumbled cooked bacon (I cheat and use the pre-cooked from the supermarket) Mix together in a large bowl. Then mix together well or shake in shaker the following: ¾ cup salad dressing (ie Miracle Whip) ¼ cup cream 3 tablespoons sugar salt & pepper to taste Mix everything together and serve immediately…the leftovers go mushy.

Anyway, hope everyone is well at your home and I look forward to the next 100 posts!

SBQ of the week (28Feb07) and updated stitching pictures

Todays SBQ was suggested by Danielle and is:

Do you find yourself stitching faster when you are getting to the end of a design?

I actually find myself stitching slower! I’m not sure if it is because I usually leave the majority of the backstitch to the end and because it is so tedious I tend to procrastinate about it. Or because I’m so close to the finish I am itching to start something new that I start the new project and put the other to the back burner or what but I stitch much quicker at the beginning of a project than the end. Case in point, the Apache Wedding Blessing is near the end. Only a little backstitching and the verse to add and I would much rather work on ANY other project at the moment. But I really do need to get it complete and out of my rotation. Here is the whole Apache Wedding Blessing: And this is the little tiny bit of backstitching still to do before putting in the verse: So I had to start my Cross Stitch Forever, Housework Whenever…

Notice I'm backstitching this one as I go LOL!