My Obsession with Thread

I have long had an obsession with thread. It goes back to childhood. I have always stitched. It started with the little cardboard stitching cards with the punched holes and the yarn to stitch the outline. I soon as I could thread a needle, I was well on the way. I would get rag bedsheets and my mother's spools of sewing thread and use that to create. My mom would sew our clothes so there was a significant amount of thread. I would squirrel it away until she needed it.

When I was about thirteen years old, I stayed with my grandparents for a few weeks that summer. My grandmother and I walked to Ben Franklins. It was there with her I was introduced to Coats and Clark embroidery floss. It was love at first sight! I immediately had an affinity to it. She bought me a dresser cloth, iron on pattern and lavender and black floss. Every time I was at her house, I would make the six block trek to Ben Franklin and buy more. Any color, it didn't matter, I had to have it!
It really didn't matter what kind of thread or string. I would save the string that was tied around cake boxes. I became very adept at untying the knots rather than cutting it, to salvage as much as I could. That string was great for macrame.

Once I graduated college, I needed a relatively inexpensive hobby. It was 1982, and I discovered counted cross stitch. This was for me. In 1982, it was a relatively inexpensive hobby. My obsession with floss stepped up into high gear. I had to have ALL the colors DMC made. Then came the over dyes and I would buy them just because they were pretty. Then Caron Watercolors and Waterlillies and silks...I do restrain myself a little with those....but, I have some.

I started with Aida but, when I overcame the intimidation of linen, I fully embraced it and won't go back. I don't understand why anyone wouldn't want to stitch on anything else. I guess I am a fabric snob.

I do knit. I really like to buy sock yarn but.......it's just not quite the same. I think I may always have a passion for floss.

End of the Weekend and Thanksgiving

It really has been a rough couple of weeks.  Between my mom and my father-in-law we have been to the emergency departments of two hospitals five times.  We haven't seen the last of it either.  It has been very stressful.  It is a good thing that I stitch because sometimes I think its the only way I stay calm.  Both I and my husband have been having the middle of the night panic attacks.  You know the kind.....you wake up in the middle of the night and your heart is just pounding and you can't get back to sleep because you start thinking about the impending doom.  All the parents are well into their 80's. 

It was good for us to have the kids home but, with all the stress they are more than ready to get back to school.  I wish I was going with them. 

So I keep stitching as much as possible and that has been the high point.  Last night, Katy and I even had a beading night and watched Christmas in Connecticut,  one of our favorite holiday movies and generally good for whatever ails you. 

So the up date on Prairie Schooler November

 It is done, I just need to frame it.  I have moved on to other things that I just can't disclose incase there are recipients lurking. 

And the bracelet I made last night.  It is copper and pink and gold jasper beads.  the beads are much prettier in person.  Katy even wants me to make one for her. 

Keep on Stitching.  I know I will. 

Stitching Night

Sitting:  Jean and Arttie

Standing:  Patty, Me and Ann

I have this stitching group.  We meet every other week.  Work on projects......Well maybe not Patty.  I think once a year Patty maybe brings something to knit.  Jean is working on a felt table pad with snowmen around it.  Arttie, Ann and I were cross stitching.  We eat lots of chocolate, drink coffee (we have pretty much gotten too old for cocktails....I think) and eat a fabulous dessert. 


The picture definately does not do it justice.  It is called Caramel Wow Cake.  The recipe is on the side of the Pillsbury German Chocolate Cake Mix
You need a German Chocolate Cake Mix:   Bake the cake according to the box
While its baking take a jar of Caramel Sauce and a can of sweetened condensed milk (NOT evaporated milk)  Mix together and reserve a 1/2 c. 
Allow the cake to cool 5 minutes then poke holes with a wooden spoon all over.  Pour the caramel mix over the cake.  Fully cool the cake
Fold in the 1/2 c. of caramel mix with an 8 oz container of Cool Whip.  Frost the cake. 
Sprinkle 4 2.1 oz crushed  Butterfinger candy bars over the top. 
Store in the refrigerator lightly covered. 
AWESOME STICKY GOODNESS!!!!

And finally the latest up date on Prairie Schooler November....Not much left.  It will be done i think.

Update on Prairie Schooler November

Great stitching weekend!  Watched some old movies and stitched like nuts.  I think I made significant progress and almost half way done. 

Did get other things done:  grocery shopping, visited the father-in-law in the nursing home (suppose to be discharged on tuesday), out for pizza, church, laundry, opened the car door when the husband got locked out while doing errands, baked home made chocolate chip cookies, (toll house is my fav's) and cooked dinner:  roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy and green beans.  Bob is going to deer camp tomorrow night and what a pitiful place it is:  no electricity, no plumping, no running water or pump and the appliances are death traps.  Probably guarantee to get carbon  monoxide poisoning from so he got a little gas burner and thats where he locked himself out of the car.  Word of advice:  Always take your keys.  LOL  I am sending cookies, meat with the gravy for sandwiches and I have a zucchini bread in the freezer. 

Keep on stitching?

Slow Cooker Bear Stroganoff

Tried a new recipe from http://www.allrecipes.com/.  My favorite site for recipes.  It was a Beef Stroganoff but, I substituted bear meat.  Really excellent and super easy. 
1# Beef -Bear Stew Meat
1 can Campbells Golden Mushroom Soup
1/2 chopped onion
1 Tbsp.  Worcestershire Sauce
1/4 c. water
4 oz cream cheese (I used more like 6 oz)
Mix meat, soup, onion, worcestershire sauce and water.  Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 5 hours.  Add and melt the cream cheese at the end. 

We had ours with noodles and I made coleslaw.  I didn't have enough coleslaw dressing so I added some Briana's Creamy Poppyseed Dressing.  That was perfect. 

Chugging along on PS November. 
Keep on Stitching!

Update and a Thanksgiving Walk in my House

I thought it would never stop downloading.  It took almost 10 minutes to download.  OUCH!
Here is the progress on the Prairie Schooler November.  It is cruising right along.  Maybe I will be done by Thanksgiving. 

Here are some of the other Thanksgiving pieces I have done over the years.  I love the colors and they go well in my house. 

 Prairie Schooler that was converted to overdyes by Theresa at Shakespeare's Peddler. 

 Hinzeit.  Alas, the buttons are starting to tarnish. 

 Cross-Eyed Cricket:  Cricket Collection.  Had to search for it and found it on 1-2-3 Stitch...by the way a great place to order from!

 More Prairie Schooler.  I absolutely adore the turkey.  On the bottom one, I had it all stitched to the board, in the frame when I realized I forgot to stitch the border around it.  YIKES!!!

 Drawn Thread.  This was a series.  My sister liked the summer one so much I gave it to her.  I need to do another one.  Maybe someday..... 

Finally, Homespun Elegance.  Kind of a combination of Autumn and Halloween.  I do love this designer too.  I have done a lot from her. 

Keep you posted on the progress.

I washed the patio door

If you have been following my blog at all, on August first I blogged about my patio door and the nose prints. I finally cleaned the glass today. It was sad. I miss my Huck yet.

Is There Any Chance IT Will All Get Done??

I have so much going on and I keep deciding I can do more.  I was at JoAnn Fabrics with my 84 y/o mother and my 83 y/o aunt helping with buying quilt material.  I do like helping match fabric but, I have no desire to quilt.  If I did, then I think that would definately end my marriage.  I don't need another hobby.  Anyway, I got the supplies to make Christmas Cards this year.  The kids are just too old to keep doing the photocards and I am kind of bored with it any way.  I figure it might be fun to enlist the help of my off spring and anyone else who might be around. 
Other projects:  a pair of socks Paca Ped Yarn and I think the color is called Fireside.  I'll post that some time, maybe when I get one finished.  I'm on stitching group present number 2.  Those don't take long.  Don't want to post those just incase anyone is lurking.   I started Prairie Schooler November after I finished the Shepherd's Bush Halloween Needleroll.  I took liberty and made a purple checkerboard rather than the white lace....I don't know I just didn't care for it.  And I think they called for black ribbon but, I liked the purple too.  I think it turned out rather cute.

 Here is the pattern I am doing now.  Will it be done sometime before Thanksgiving?  I don't know but, it will be a race again time.  Anyone want to bet?

 Where I am so far.  I spent alot of time with the "Girls" (that is a whole 'nother story of confusion and trying to keep them in view, so as not to lose one) and too much cash.  Just think how much I will be saving by making my own Christmas Cards!

The there is a cute freebie on the Plum Street Samplers I saw and thought anyone might be interested in http://plumstreetsamplers.typepad.com/plum_street_samplers/2011/11/give-thanks.html 
It was just posted on her website today and is adorable!  Some other fun things there too. 

Happy Stitching!
(Hope there aren't too many typo's but, dinner is ready!)