I finished the March Daffodils, the next phase and a gadget

I finished the March Daffodils and March isn't even over yet!  How exciting is that?   I still can't help but, love the sheep.  Maybe someday I will have sheep and alpacas.  I love alpacas! 

 I started the companion piece last night.  You can see the Lions  main taking shape.  I suspect he will be even more handsome in person.  I don't think it will take me long.  This is what I got the frame parts for over the weekend. 

 Then, I saw this gadget on the Silver Needle website.  It is for making cording to finish off pieces. 
I guess the cording is more square.  I have to figure out the directions and get it working.  You use more of a perle cotton.  It came with some Weeks  to try out.  I just got to try it but, it is one of those things I will wait to do in the morning when I am bright eyed and bushy tailed.  I usually make cord with a eggbeater drill and a cup holder hook that I wrapped much masking tape around so the screw  part of the hook fits into the bit holder of the drill.  I am hoping this is just sort of easier and relaxing. 

Thanks for stopping and checking out my little blog.  Please become a member.  I am waiting for #6. 

Keep on stitching. 

I'm so closed to finishing March Daffodils

We went Marquette to the Sports Show...well Bob and Ed did.  I did some shopping.  I got supplies for finishing, frame parts, a little glass thing I picked at the bead store.  I have been looking for something like that.  Oh do I have wonderful plans for that...wait and see.  Got to go to Pier 1 and picked up refills for reed defusers, Bath and Body Works for hand soap...you know all the places guys won't go.  When I was done, and even had time to stop at Starbucks for an iced latte, they were ready to leave the show.  Ed certainly looks good but, still clueless when it comes to things that really matter, like registering for next semester.  Good thing his father is on top of that.  Katy doesn't have that problem.

I am so close to finishing the March Daffodils.  I will probably finish within the next few days, if I can stay awake to work on it.  I am going to do the companion piece, that is what the frame parts are for. 

I have the daffodil in the left corner done, just need to do the background and then the border and I am done.  I will post when it is finished. 

Thanks for stopping.  Keep on stitching. 

March Daffodil Update and Crazy Old Ladies

I suppose someday I will be a crazy old lady.  I'm a crazy middle-aged lady right now.  My kids threaten to institutionalize me if I get like this.....
Scenario #1:  My nearly 85 year old mother calls me this morning.....

"I'm afraid I may be in a pickle.  You know I saw that full page ad in the newspaper about the Aloe Vera pills that are suppose to be good for your stomach.  You know that all that stuff for heart burn is no good for you and I just feel lousy.  I ordered it.  Well they called last night to let me know it was on back order and it would be a while before I get it.  I went to bed thinking maybe I shouldn't have ordered it.  Well, this morning my credit card company called me about it and said I was suppose to cut up my card and they are sending me a new one."  I told her to call the natural food store and see if they carried something like this if she wants to try it and it won't be 3 months worth. 

This isn't the first time.  About 6 months ago she ordered some sort of supplement that is suppose to help with your memory.  That at least wasn't a scam.  They refunded her money when the stuff made her blood pressure go up.  I actually think, when she stopped taking it her memory was worse than when she started taking it.

Scenario #2  I decided to vacuum and move living room furniture today.  My mother-in-law, who is 83 comes over to walk the dog.  "Hey do you think that the two of us can flip my mattress (queen-size)"  I told her we could try and if we can't do it, she would have to wait for Bob.  In the meantime....Bob gets a phone call from his brother in Atlanta, "Don't let mom flip her mattress."  When I did talk to Bob, I told him, "Yeah, your mom came over to see if I would help her flip her mattress.  We did it."  Bob, "Oh yeah.  She had Steve all worked up about it." I just find it amazingly amusing at times.  Maybe it doesn't sound as funny on paper

Anyway.  I used my new stitching bag for Stitch n'Bitch last night.  I must say it was AMAZING!


Finally, what you actually may be waiting for.....March Daffodil update

 

Prairie Schooler, Mystery Sampler, Buster and Katy....End of Spring Break-Erin Go Braugh

It has been a busy weekend as we wrap up Spring Break. The last kid went back to college this morning so tore the house apart and cleaned. There is always too much going on that cleaning gets,

pardon the pun, swept under the rug. 

So yesterday, while running errands like mad...paint store for paint to redo the kids/guest bathroom, Home Depot for a new shower rod and check out new fixtures, groceries and Pet Supplies for dog food, Buster got a green bandana in honor of St. Patricks Day...Erin Go Braugh.  This morning he got it off .  Enough of the fancy pants stuff.  He hates to have his picture taken, so he turns away.

He did look very cute sitting on Katy's lap this morning before she left. He loves his pet girl. 

 Finished the grass under the sheep today since I was up so early to make her breakfast before she left.  the sheep look even better than ever. 

 Experimented with a different angle.  It would look better with it pressed but, just an early attempt. 

 Finally, hung the Mystery Sampler from With Thy Needle and Thread.  I think it looks just dandy here. 

 The weather is unseasonable warm. The robins are singing like crazy.   We have the windows open, the ceiling fans on, barbequed a steak and had cocktails on the porch tonight.  Will sleep with the windows open as we did last night and it isn't even spring yet.  Usually spring doesn't hit the UP until May.  It will just mess up the lilacs.  We will probably have a freeze while they are budding and no lilacs.  I hate that when that happens because, I love lilacs. 

So the house is cleaned, the ironing is done, the pictures around the house are changed, yet again. 
Thanks for stopping.  Keep on stitching!

Prairie Schooler March Daffodils update amoung other things

I have been diligently working on my Prairie Schooler March Daffodils. I am filling in the grass right now. The alphabet is done, the sheep are all nice a sheepish. I do plan on doing the smaller companion piece. I love the lion and the lamb.  The sheep will stand out more once the grass is done.

 Went birthday shopping yesterday with Katy.  Picked up a pile of cloths at Old Navy.  The T-shirts were buy one get one free.  She is sort of starting to pack up to head back to college on sunday.  After that there is only 7 weeks more of school.   Since we had enough time on the way home we just had to stop at the Stitching Bee.  Picked up more things I don't been but, will come in handy.  I have scheduled my total knee replacement for May 18th and will be off work possibly 12 weeks or more.  I will have plenty of time once I am not so gorked on pain medication. 

 I thought this would be cute somewhere in the kitchen.  I move stuff around you know.  It was sort of a kit, pattern and floss, Crescent Colours.  Very Vegetable. 

March is definately weirdly warm.  The average for us is around 40 and it was 70 today.  It is scary because it shouldn't be this warm.  It can spawn some terrible storms.  We are suppose to have some tomorrow.  We'll see what happens. 

Thanks for stopping.  Keep on stitching.

Stitching Bags - I think I found one I truly love!

I have a love-hate relationship with stitching bags.  It seems I have a hard time finding one that is just right, and it has to be cute.  There is always the cute factor...ever so important.
I love the project bags that are zippered.  I have several of those in different sizes and they work really great for a project.  When I go to my stitching group I have to carry more than my project bag.  I need to carry an Ott light and an extension cord.  The size I stitch on requires good light and my eyes aren't getting any younger.  I have "progressive lenses" just a fancy way of saying bifocals....LOL.
My first stitching bag is kind of old and lacking the cute factor.  I think I got this in the 1980's and it is seriously drab.

 This one I got a freebie with Estee Lauder.  Cute but, a little too beachy and nothing organizational on the inside.  And the straps are kind of short so can't sling over the shoulder. 

 This one is sort of cute.  It was the Christmas present to the stitching group 2009 but, not really big enough to carry the light, the extension cord and the project bag.  I may use this one for knitting.  The straps are too short on this one too.

I was looking and I think I have found, at long last the perfect stitching bag.  It is from Vera Bradley and since it is a retiring color, it was on sale.  I have a really large VB bag to carry my purse, lunch bag, Hand Journals, umbrella, coffe mugs, water bottles etc to work.  That bag is too big for stitching but a great bag.  This is the East-West Tote.  I think it scores very high on the cute factor....

 The straps are certainly long enough.  The inside is uber cute!  Magnetic clasp

 Pockets on one side to hold the extension cord, my wallet and cell phone so I don't need to take my purse too.  I think this one might be the winner since it scores so high on the requirements. 

 Finally, the socks aren't too small.  Katy had them on today and they fit like a glove...or rather a sock.  I could finish off the second sock and they turned our fabby!  She loves them.  Got to get more of this type of yarn for when I am home recupping from my impending knee surgery.  UGH!

 Have a super week.  Thanks for stopping.  Keep on stitching.

Finished March Word Play

I really needed to take it easy today because work has been super hectic and my knee has been killing me.  Instead we went to the movies and saw The Artist.  It really was good and I'm glad I saw it in the the theater. 

I did finish off the March Word Play....and its still March!

 I just used some linen colored organdy ribbon and attached to the corners with antique buttons. 

It looks very sweet hanging on a door knob.  Or I may hang it on the china hutch. 

Thanks for stopping.  Keep on stitching!

Laxative Cocktails, Naps and March stitching.

I had the day off, well sort of.  I had the old endo/colonoscopy double tag today.  Ugh!  The prep is always worse than anything.  Drinking the stuff.....well it is wretched.  How do you make a good laxative cocktail?  After the fact, you pretty much sleep all day.  Great naps!

I did get my March Word Play done.  I have to finish it.  I don't have the rusted bells or safety pins.  I suppose I could get some but, probably not....well maybe if I decide to do another one, I'll get some then. 

This is the material I'm going to back it with.  I think it is pretty cool.  I usually use quilt material for backing because I can find nice fabric and match the colors well.  I think this is a Moda Civil War.  The greens and the tan match well.  I usually buy enough to keep in the stash. 

I have started working on Prairie Schooler March Daffodils, copied from the Prairie Schooler site. 

I love both pieces and will do both.  I won't finish before the end of the month.  I am a fan of the sheep. 

Thanks for stopping.  Keep on stitching.