Eating Dinner By Myself and It's Okay

This will be a no picture post cuz I haven't yet mastered pictures with the iPad.  Maybe someday.  I think you need to do something like Photo Bucket.

I am about two hundred miles from my laptop at the Wisconsin Hand Experience becoming up-to-date with the latest in the world of hand therapy.  They changed the venue this year.  In the past it was at the Sheraton, close to a mall.  The first night I do my own thing.  I would usually shop and eat mall food.  This year we are at the Crowne Plaza.  Closet things outside of the hotel is a McDonalds amNd a sketchy steaks house.  So, I'm eating at the hotel restaurant by myself, having a glass of wine and blogging.  I did have a very good burger with wasbi sauce and caramalized onions, yum!  Everyone in here, except two guys at the bar are going to the conference, including the presenters.  When you go to things like this they should have a dinner board so people can meet and have company.  Although, I really don't feel like small talk.  I'm tired: busy weekends, busy work, a four hour drive and five and a half hours of conference work.  Let me tell you the physician talking about ultra sound imaging was as dry as a popcorn fart!

Last night I actually got started sorting the over dye floss.  I had done prep work.  I decided to get the floss bags to stand up straight with a file card.  I have no idea how many I got ready but, it was a pile.  I think now believes I have floss.  I pretty much got through A-H in the GAST.  I have lots of work yet.  I'm thinking four boxes isn't going to be enough. I may have to use s shoebox for a while.  I got dividers at Wally World for a 4x6 card and cut them so they were about 4x5. High enough to see them over the bag and narrow enought to fit two across, if that makes sense.  I will post a picture this weekend.

If you haven't seen yet there is an awesome giveaway at Victorian Motto and Sampler Shoppep,  you need to check it out....Gorgeous!

Glad you stopped.  Please pardon any weirdness but the iPad autocorrect and sometimes we don't agree.  Thanks for all the great comments!
Keep on stitching
Monica

Time to Reorganize

Went shopping yesterday with the Stitching girls.  Before going, I was sorting through the over-dyes to see what I need for projects.  It is way too complicated to go through the thread.  I thought I had a good system.  Initially, I had used hanging file folders, color coated by brand:  Red:  GAST, Yellow Weeks and Blue Crescent Colors.  I had a strip of velcro hook on the folder and a piece of loop on the card for the thread.  I could stick it in alphabet order.  Became too complicated and just didn't keep up with it.  It is a mess.

 I picked up four photo boxes and around two hundred floss bags.  I think the bags should fit two across in the box.  My friend Patty was amazed I bought four boxes.  "You really have that much thread?"  I replied, "Oh yeah.  I use it.  But, sometimes I just buy a color because it is pretty."  I hope four boxes will be enough.   I'm really hopping that I will only need three, and one extra.  

I got all but one of the colors I needed.  I may just substitute it with something close.  I also found small pieces of 32 count Lambswool that will work well for the  Prairie Schooler monthly smalls for the seasons.  They were a dollar a piece.  

 Kendra had gotten some new patterns in....like I really need more but, alas no will power.  This is a new designer for me.  I love Halloween patterns and I really love psychotic pumpkins and I think now a psychotic cat has gotten my attention.  

       Isn't he cute?  I may have to do a small to hang from a knob handle during the season.

 I think I have grown fond of crows too, just like the sheep.  Years ago it was cows.  I think that may be future post about how taste changes.  

 Finally, the designs from France  have been getting my attention lately.  How can you go wrong with sheep in the picture. There is a website called the French Needle with fun patterns, scarves and other little interesting things.  See  More French Stuff

Hope you had a great Mother's Day.  Mine was very nice but, hectic.  Ed was home and cooked me breakfast.  He is moving into an apartment so it was good practice.  Bob was cooking breakfast at the church.  I really don't like to go to those.  I would just as soon have a bowl of cheerios.  We then had the grandmothers for dinner.  But, did all kinds of chores in-between.  Since I played yesterday, I had to do chores today.  Tomorrow, back to work.

It will probably be a short post week.  I will be out of town for a Hand Therapy Conference.  I have to keep up with continuing education credits to keep my hand therapy certification.

Have a great week.  Oh, BTW we had snow yesterday.  Fortunately no accumulation.  It is very chilly today, more like March than May.

Keep on Stitching
Monica

Courage and Other Things

I finished the LHN Virtues but, didn't get in it Katy's box.  She wanted me to send the box as soon as possible because it has been taking longer than anticipated for the boxes to get to her....almost a week.  I baked the chocolate chip bars on Monday night and packed up the box.  Bob shipped it via UPS from his office.  She got the box on Wednesday, in record breaking time.

Here's how it turned out.  I texted her a picture.  

 This was a freebie from Drawn Thread.  I had cut the fabric wrong.  I was going to fold it for the back but, I messed it up and didn't realize it until after I had stitched it.  I just used some pink fabric on the back.  I finally got around to finishing it after I found it while straightening up Ed's/sewing room.  I have had this gold cord for a while.  When I found it, I bought it all and I'm glad I did.  It is the best stuff.  I have never seen it again and I don't remember where I bought it.  I know I have had it for a long time....HOORAY FOR STASH!!!!

 After seeing the Ladies Prim Society at Dyeing to Stitch on Faye's blog the Carolina Stitcher and fell in love.  I absolutely adore GAST Mountain Mist.  I am starting with my name tag.  I stopped at the quilt store today and found some backing material, Moda Civil War line.  It is nearly perfect.  The blues may be a little different but, it will work.  I used it for the picture background.  

 I'm stitching it on 40 count, so it isn't too big.  

 This is the first official project of the Ladies Prim Society.  

 I have recently picked up more patterns from Threadwork Primitives.  

 The second project, a Black Bird Design.  Love these colors too!  I am a huge fan of BBD.  I have blogged projects, gift boxes.  The backing material for this are Moda too.  BBD also designs for quilt fabric for Moda.  

 A little closer look at the pattern.  

Got to get my shopping list done for a shopping trip with the Stitching girls.  I need some floss.  I have decided to reorganize my overdyes.  I think I'm going to get some floss away bags and photo storage boxes.  It would definitely make it easier to find floss and put it away.

While at the quilt shop today, there was a group of ladies who had road tripped it.  They all had huge bags of fabric and kits and were laughing and giggling about getting more stash. (It was some MAJOR acquisitions). I feel the same way about cross stitchy stuff.  I laughed with them and said when the lights go out because of disaster or the Zombi Apocalypse happens we all will have enough stuff to last us.

Keep on getting your stash just in case of that Zombi Apocalypse, I know I will!
And as always, thanks for the lovely comments.  I do so enjoy hearing from you and I appreciate you taking the time to comment.
Keep on Stitching.
Monica

TED Talk: The Happy Secret to Better Work.

i have heard about the TED talks first from my son.  Then I came across this one in a news letter.  They are always informative and usually entertaining.  TED stands for technology, entertainment and design. (This is all a very elementary explanation) The title of this one is sort of deceptive and doesn't just apply to work.  It really is a way of changing your life or at least thought pattern.  Essentially when we are optimistic our brain is flooded with dopamine (a neurotransmitter)  we learn better.  (That is really basic)  It is a 12 minute video TED Talk Here.

So five things you can do to change your outlook for 21 days:
1.  Identify three things you are grateful for.
2.  Journal one daily positive experience
3.  Exercise
4.  Meditate
5.  A random act of kindness or a conscious act of kindness and he suggested an positive email to an
     acquaintance.

So today's positive experience:  It is really nice and you know how I have complained about the weather.  I was able to get into my south flower bed and cleaned out.  I have a grass issue but stuff is coming up.

The poppy

 Russian Sage

 Allium that in 2 years doesn't do much

A huge thank you to all the wonderful comments.
Keep on Stitching
Monica

Oh, Did I Need This

It has been a week!  Our daughter Katy has a genetic disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.  Her body doesn't effectively produce collagen so she has painful, hypermobile joints.  Collagen is the glue that holds everything together in your body.  You can read more Here.  She really struggles but, it is amazing her fortitude.  It has been a really rough week/month.  The hardest thing about being a parent with a chronically ill/child in pain is what to say when they are so very miserable.  There really is very little that can be done with this disorder other than pallative care.  She really gets no relief from pain medication.  We have gotten lots of braces and splints.  She goes to Physical therapy to tweek exercises to keep her muscles strong and in tone to hold her joints together since the ligaments aren't capable.  The latest was she has been having skin problems where she had some blood seeping through a stretch mark.  We are thinking a Pain Clinic maybe the next route.  We have been to the Mayo Clinic without great success.  The stupid weather hasn't helped.

So when I got a email from Vicki at Three Bags Full Blog (who had also sponsored Grow Your Blog) letting me know I had won one of the Vera Bradley Bags, I was esctatic!  You can see the original post here -

Vera Grateful Giveaway from Vicki at Three Bags Full   This really couldn't have come at a better time.

I have been working on the LHN Virtues and this is the latest one.  I do believe I will send this to Katy in her final exam box from home.  I think it is appropriate.  She'll think I'm nuts.  I did do the sheep in the Wisper thread the white and the brown head.   I'll fluff him up with a bunco brush when I'm done.

I wish you could see how fuzzy the sheep is.  Sorry the pictures aren't exactly straight. 

 Guess I'm just cock eyed.  

Then at Mass today, Fr. Joe said that according to Cardinal Dolan "Be Not Afraid" is mentioned in the Bible 365 times.  I think the cosmic powers of the universe are converging.

Some snaps of the local dams.  This one is the Ford Dam.  Ford's Woodland Division was here.  This is where they made the wood panels for the Woody Station wagon in the 1940's and during the war they made gliders for the Army.  Kingsford Charcoal was an off shoot, a way to sell the byproducts.  Trivia for the day.   My husband has been on the inside of the building and said it is very Art Deco.

This is Hydrolic Dam further downstream.  It is a much bigger dam and really running water.  

Finally, my mom's 86th Birthday is May 8th.  She is having her kitchen, back hall and adjoining bathroom re-tiled.  Her oven is in the living room so she can't cook.  I had her and my MIL over for dinner tonight.  My Mom decided that was good, it could be for her birthday.  I had to scramble and get a present.  She is very difficult to shop for, "I don't need anything."  I got my MIL a subscription to People (that thing is expensive!)  So, I had to get my Mom something nice.  I went to a little gift/home decorating store and got this done.  They are silk so it shouldn't flair any of her many allergies.  LOL.  I told her if she didn't like it, she could give it back to me for my birthday.

Hope you had a great weekend.  I still can't believe I won a Vera Bradley Tote.  I love VB and I am so grateful to Vicki because I really needed a lovely surprise like that.  

Thank you for all the wonderful comments.  You are all so wonderful.  I'm so glad you take the time to send me a little note.  

Have a great week!

Keep on Stitching

Monica

Twenty Four Hour Finishes

I finished up a few things in the last twenty four hours. 

I finished Shepherd's Bush Come Home and I did stitch the words.  

It kind of turned out a little lopsided.  I worked on it last night at stitching group.  

I added some silk ribbon and beads so it was in keeping with Edens Lament. 

 Arttie said the lopsidedness was ok.  I figure it adds to its charm, LOL.  

It is really hard to sew a heart on the machine.

It looks cute in the basket with Eden's Lament. 

 I have another one to do an it will make a nice trio

 Then I moved on to my Prairie Schooler May.  I did stitch in the "May"

 Before I show you the finished Homespun Elegance Scenes of Spring, 

I thought I would show you what was in the frame.  Can't remember the name of this one. 

I am too lazy to find the pattern.  It is one of the "Bringing In" series.  

It is very cute.  The basket button has some fuzzy fiber in it.

 The finished Scenes of Spring.  I have Scenes of Summer in the queue.  

I will be starting the latest LHN Virtues - Courage.  I did get some Wisper Thread to do the sheep fuzzy.  

I'm going to make this sheep fuzzy.  

I also spent some time today putting away thread.  It is amazing how fast that stuff accumulates in a basket.  

I need to make sure I have the right thread for some upcoming projects

The stitching group is going on a road trip and I hope to stop at the Stitching Bee.  

I have a copy of the new Stacy Nash book reserved.  I am hoping it will be there.  

I have an uber busy day tomorrow at work.  I will most likely fall asleep in my chair early tomorrow night.

Need to do some more spring cleaning type of activities this weekend.  Moving sweaters around, cleaning out the laundry room and putting away some more stitching stuff.  

I really hope I get some stitching done.  

Have a great weekend.  

Keep on Stitching

Monica  

YooHoo It is Finally Spring!!

We finally have Spring!  We have been very busy around the house. After we ran errands,  we did some spring cleaning yesterday.  We did the tops of the cabinets where the decorative stuff is...baskets, large decorative platters and etc.  And we used special cleaner on the front of them.  I had done the insides after we nailed the mouse.  Then we cleaned windows, inside and out and cleaned the screens.  While I did laundry and ironing today, Bob did some raking and pruning some trees.  We did go to Home Depot and got the beginnings of things we will need, a new pruner. Miracle Grow and a few packets of seeds...especially Basil.  Since it was 70 degrees today, we have had the windows open  We sat outside while grilling chicken.  The rest of the week, well you know, lots of rain in the forecast but, at least the temperatures are suppose to be seasonal.

Because of all the work we have been doing, I haven't stitched much.  I did start Homespun Elegance Scenes of Spring.  I couldn't decide what picture to post without or with flash, I posted both.

 I do enjoy doing these.  I have done several similar pieces, the "Bringing In" and I have done the Scenes of Autum.  I even pressed it a little while I was doing ironing so it would show up nice for the blog.

 When we in La Cross, we found a new bead store Bedazzle.  It was a lovely little shop with kits.  I picked this kit up along with the beads to make an awesome Kumihimo bracelet in blues.  The beads were awesome, Lamp glass, blown, silver spacers and two sizes of Bronzite.  The pictures really don't do it justice.

 I tried it on a different background and that seemed to help.

I did not get the last two projects really finished.  It was too nice outside not to get the winter cleaned away.
If I have time this week, I'll get them done.  I do have stitching group at my house on Wednesday.  That will slow some things down a little.  It really is only a little zipping up with the sewing machine.

I did see a new stitching challenge the 2013 Ladies Prim Society on Faye's Carolina Stitcher.  I may decide to participate in it.  I saw the first and second project in the Society and they really appeal to me.

Funny story, I made pancakes for breakfast this morning.  I always make a small one for Buster because he loves pancakes.  He broke the record today.  The first pancake I made him, he carried around for about 4 hours.  Today, we thought he ate it right away.  When we came home from Home Depot and visiting my mom, he pulled it out of the couch...5 hours.  He has been carrying it around and leaving it here and there.  He finally ate it 14 hours after we gave it to him.  While Bob has been doing yard work, he has found multiple Milk Bones in the backyard from the winter.  If he knew how to did a whole, I think he would be burying a lot of these treats. He is a very goofy dog.

Hope you have had a great weekend.  Thank you for the fun comments.  You guys are awesome!  Have a great week and .....Keep on Stitching
Monica