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.

The current project - and the current time grabber

I signed myself up for a mystery stitching SAL (something I've never done before) after seeing the middle panel which appealed to me as did the fact that it wasn't a requirement that I finish one part before receiving the next and the whole pattern would be shared by the end of the year so if we weren't done, the whole pattern was still ours.  On the above link it shows a whole series of stitchers work - I'm no where close to that!

Here is where I'm at right now...

I'm loving this one and look forward to having it done to hang in my home.

Now for the time grabber...

I have both a coach and player in my home which equals practice twice a week and Saturday games.  Cameron loves it and I think Dad is excited to share his passion for the game as well.  They just texted me, they won today 18 - 0! 

A few of weeks ago my brother was around for the long weekend in May and his girlfriend snapped the following pictures (as well at the two above) which I love...

A little ways to grow....

I always knew they were related...but I think this is great proof.

I hope everyone is well...enjoy the nice weather as much as you can - I'm headed out to weed the vegetable garden now...

Yuck.

Strep throat again.  So tired at the end of each day this week, no stitching was enjoyed at all.  Of course the long day on Wednesday due to working the Jim Cuddy show didn't help.  But finally went yesterday to the clinic and with antibiotics hope to feel better by the end of the weekend.  I haven't posted my WIP's in awhile, so here is where they stand as of this morning.

A Baby Update

No one get the wrong idea ... I'm not having another baby, my best friend is having her second child in November.

I'm stitching a baby!

Here is where baby is now:

This past weekend I was away with a wonderful group of ladies in Georgian Bay and I was able to stitch up a storm! In the photo below, all the yellow highlighter is from Friday afternoon until noon on Sunday! Not bad for a weekend of stitching!

This is a Maria Diaz Design, the second design that I have done by her and I'm loving this one as much as the last one.

Here is a link to the first one I stitched (same Mom) so I've stitching this as a companion piece. Completed baby #1

Christmas has come and gone

I hope that everyone reading had a wonderful holiday season with family and friends. We started the season on the evening of the 23rd, my last day of work until the 4th of January (a much needed break on my part....) when I stopped for the last minute items we were missing and a run to the LCBO. Christmas Eve was spent with my inlaws, we all attended the family service at St Luke's Church (a video in the church from 2010 for the Silent Night Project) - Cameron had a part in the service as the "older" angel and Caleb was a giraffe in the manager scene. Then DH treated us to a wonderful roast beef dinner including the Reverend and his wife and children. Rev. John is a huge part of why Cameron LOVES going to church - he is young (37) and when the minister wears jeans to service it really puts the younger generations at ease. John had another service to attend in a nearby community so he was only able to eat and run but his wife and children stayed until just after 9pm - watching Santa on NORAD Santa Tracker and just enjoying the season with us.

Our Christmas Tree 2010

Christmas morning, we had some excited boys...

We were home most of the morning and then spent the rest of Christmas Day with the inlaws.

Boxing Day and the 27th were with my family.

Today we took down the tree and tried to get the house "back in order". We have friends coming tomorrow for a visit as well as Dani and Todd coming for our traditional New Years Celebration on Friday. I did get a litte baking done before the holidays....here are my "christmas trees" before they were devoured.

If you are looking for the cookie cutters that I used, you can find them here....Page 48 of the Regal Christmas Catalogue - next time I will bake twice as many cookies for one tree.

So, our time has been very busy but wonderful to be with our family and friends, we feel truly blessed and look forward to wonderful things in 2011.

And stayed tuned, I'm working on a final happy dance for 2010!

ICK and Tulips....

Before I left the house this morning (because I'm working the Saturday of a long weekend....yuck) I took pictures of the two WIPs that have seen some face time in the last couple of weeks. Two tulips, I realized that I did not measure correctly and will not have enough fabric to do all four so now I have to figure out of the last two, which one I want to stitch....decisions, decisions. And ICK, I finished up the last of the black last night before bed, so here is where it currently stands.

I hope everyone is enjoying this wonderful weather, not too bad for a 2-4 weekend, normally it is cold and rainy. Oh well, when I'm done work tonight I have two whole days to get out and enjoy some of it.

I've been stitching...

So here is where Growth Rings is after some weekend stitching, and Monday as well because I have to work this Saturday so no work yesterday... no blue yet.

And here is where ICK is at, blackwork for the second page is done, now I just have to fill in the colours.

And I thought I should share this picture of Caleb and his friend Erin watching a movie yesterday afternoon when they got home from playgroup, they are too cute for words...

Stay warm...I'm sitting and stitching again tonight so stay tuned for another update in the near future.

A Lovely Evening...

Last night after work I had a lovely evening with Trista, Beth (of no blog)and Heather (Beth's daughter). Heather and Beth had a beautiful lasagna, caesar salad and garlic bread all ready to hit the table when I arrived at 6:30pm, along with a lovely glass of Australian Shiraz. Beth's husband Doug joined us while we ate and we all had a lovely, lovely evening. We did some stitching and here is where I've gotten thus far on my Ink Circles piece... And here are a couple of pictures I snapped this morning when everything was covered in a beautfiful, thick layer of frost all around my house...this is my view from the front of my house looking West, using two different settings on my point and click camera, who knew there was a "snow" setting!

Have a wonderful evening everyone!

The Last One for 2009 and The First for 2010

I have some stitching to show...here is the last thing I both started and finished in 2009...I started it on December 27th and finished it on the 28th...

And with my "model"...

It was a kit that was gifted to me by Lynn J when she came for the weekend in October.

And here is my first start and finish for 2010! Dani left me the pattern and I stitched it up in an evening...

And here is where ICK sits at the moment....

And here is where my JBW Snow Globe was before I stitched with Trista last night...

And here is where it is after... Just the 'snow' to finish around the globe! Tonight I will be working on ICK - or I "might" pull out my DH's fish, I'll let you know at the start of next week :-)

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend, stay warm and get lots of stitching done!

Tri-weekly stitching

As miserable as it is out, tonight is my once-every-three-weeks stitching evening at home. So I'm actually skipping out of work a little early and getting home at a decent hour. I might even have a couple of completed projects to show for my extra effort tonight!

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.

Late but - What a great weekend we had.

So my last post was about the weekend that was coming up in which I was hosting...it went fabulously...I had a wonderful time and I hope that the friends who made the journey did as well. I have pictures but here is what everyone else had to say about the weekend...and I know some will complain but they are so much better at telling how the weekend was, I spent a lot of time making tea :-) Dani - Long Awaited Stitchy Weekend Christin - Party til you drop Lynn - Friends and Fun Also in attendance were...Beatrice, Barb (no blog), Kathy A, Judi (no blog), Trista, Bonnie and my mother-in-law Bev (no blog) Unfortunately both Beth (no blog) and Ann (of Knowledge and Needles) were taken ill and not able to join us...we missed you both!

Nothing but backstitch...

For those following the saga of the wolves, I've been stitching on these bad boys for about 6 years. I had set a goal of my anniversary (which was Friday) to have these done as they were picked out by my DH. So this is what he is getting from me for our tenth anniversary, but life has been busy and I did not meet my deadline, but I think I came close enough. Now on to the backstitching...

OH HAPPY DANCE!

Sepia tones - Baby - by Maria Diaz (Cross Stitch Collection #144)

Stitched on white lugana, 28 ct using recommended DMC

Now I just wait until baby arrives (early April) to personalize it before sending if off.

So I finished this late on Sunday evening but I've had a house full of sick kids (DH is included in that) and no time to post. I even ended up going home early from work yesterday as DH was not coping well being sick with one sick kid and one wired healthy kid. Now we are just knocking on wood that Caleb and Mommy have avoided this all together!

So now I get to do a new start! My fairie godmother by Barbara Baatz has been kitted and ready to go since last summer and last night I put the first 100 or so stitches in only to realize that one large block was off by a couple stitches, so tonight I get to counter stitch some first. But I can say that this piece is for me and me alone...and I am enjoying it totally!

Stay warm and put some stitches in something!

Until next time...