Mystery Sampler Update

I have been working on my L*K Mystery Sampler.  I finished most of Part 2.  I'll need to go back when its done to finish the satin stitches and add the beads, buttons and charms.  I can't wait to get Part 3.  I think I am going to do the companion pieces as smalls.  I'm not going to worry about the fabric.  I do have some orange fabric that will work, I think I have some green that would work well too.   I 'll need to dig it out of my stash.  

 Speaking of stash....I see some bloggers are on a stash diet.  OMG!   What are they thinking?  Is it possible to have too much stash?  If anything, I would probably get rid of stash before I stop buying.  Even that, I don't know what I would sell.  

I started working on my Halloween Exchange Ornament.  This will probably be the only post until when everything transpires.  I love crazy looking pumpkins.  I did a bell-pull and there's button on it that is really a psychopathic jack-o-lantern.  I will have to post that in October since it is in a Halloween box somewhere.  He is really a hoot.  

Katy is starting to back to go back to college.  My house looks like a bomb went off in it.  There is kitchen stuff all over the table.  Plastic bins in the living room and Ed's room has been completely taken over.  I am going to really miss her but, she takes over everything even when she isn't packing.  It is especially bad this year because she is moving into an on campus apartment so she needs kitchen gear.  One of her roommates is bringing dishes.  Katy has pots and pans that we got at Kohl's (a great deal) and baking things from my MIL.  Good thing I'm off today.  I 'm doing laundry and keeping her on task.
She only has one US roommate and two internationals who when I looked at the names are probably Chinese.  The apartment has a kitchen, living room, bathroom, and each girl has her own room.  It should be a really interesting year.  I can't wait to meet them and hear how things are working out down the road.   

I do hope we have time to stop at The Crosse Stitchery and Mainstreet Framing in LaCross.  I have some birthday money and will probably add more to get some more stash.  

Thanks for all the great comments.  Thanks for stopping by.
Keep on Stitching!
Monica

I Am Way Too Busy!

I figured this would happen when I returned to work.  Work, Work, Work......Bah!
I am a Certified Hand Therapist by day and Fanatical Cross Stitcher by night.  Even though I am working only five hours a day for a little while, I had to work this weekend.  Certain post surgical diagnosis need to be seen daily for two weeks.  I had a client that needed to be seen this weekend.  There was also paperwork that needed to be done. Then, there was copious amounts of laundry since DH was working out of town.  Usually, I try to get some during the week but, couldn't since it was with him.

Picture of my dog Buster.  I don't have any stitchy pictures to show you.  I thought you might like my dog.

 I have been crazy nuts busy:  grocery shopping, cleaning, bringing dinner and a baby gift to some friends.  More work, church and family dinner.  I saw the same client on Sunday too.

 Buster with his favorite toy, Frank the pig.  It is almost as big as he is.

I haven't had much time to stitch.  I did finish my humble stitching for Top Hat Jack from Notforgotten Farm.  The pictures are due by September 1st.  I finished it off this afternoon.  I think it turned out pretty cute.  I'll post the pictures soon.

 Close up of Buster.  I don't have stitchy pictures but, he is a fun subject.  Then I have glued some cardboard together to finish off the Christmas presents.  I am cutting stuff out this week.

Buster's favorite perch on the patio.  Hopefully, I will get some more stitching done this week so I can post some pictures.  After I finish part 2 of the L*K Mystery Sampler, I have an ornament that needs to get done for the Halloween Exchange.  I think I may be going through Prairie Schooler withdrawl.  Next weekend we need to take Katy back to college and get her moved in.  I am really hoping I can get to the Crosse Stitchery and Mainstreet Framing.

Thanks for stopping and all the great comments.  I really enjoy hearing from you.
Keep on Stitching.  Hope you didn't mind my dog pictures.

Welcome Back

I have nearly completed my first week back at work.  Boy, am I glad I have been only working five hours.  I think eight hours would have killed me.  Monday was rough but, it is getting better day by day. I'm working short days next week too.  The following week I haven't decided yet.  I will probably start adding hours.  When I got to work Monday I had some gorgeous peach colored roses, a Welcome Back Balloon and donuts.  It was so sweet!  I really work with some great people!  I am very fortunate.  

I left them on my desk Monday and Tuesday.  It was nice to enjoy them at work.  They really opened up rather nicely and looked even better.  And, they even smelled good!  So many times they really don't have much smell but, these did.

 I have finally finished the stitching part on my pumpkin for the Not Forgotten Farm Challenge.  I need to "finish" it.  That won't take me long.  It was on my to do list for today.  Unfortunately it was not done.  I was busy all day.  Time just ran out.  I will post a picture of it on the deadline day.  It was a lot more stitching than I had anticipated.

I finally was able to work on the L*K Mystery Sampler.  I took it to stitching group last night and got some done.  I did work on it for a little while this morning.

 Once I get this section done, I have to work on my ornament for the Halloween Exchange.  I have been collecting all kinds of goodies to put in the box.  It is such fun.

Welcome new members!  Thanks for joining me.  Thanks for the great comments on Prairie Schooler.
Did you notice there were some behind the flowers in the first picture?  Thanks for stopping by.
Keep on Stitching
Monica

A Passion for Prairie Schooler

Welcome new members.  I am so glad you have joined me.  

Since I have been stitching on things I can't really post yet, I decided I would recycle some pictures.   I think that I have mentioned this more than once, I love Prairie Schooler.  I have more from Pamela Byrd than anyone else.  I do have other favorite designers:  Drawn Thread, Black Bird Design, Homespun Elegance and Shepherd's Bush.  With Thy Needle and Thread may be one of my new favorites.  Prairie Schooler wins hands down.  I see people sell stash but, I don't think I could part with my Prairie Schoolers.

 I did  a quick count tonight before posting.  I figure I have about 48 large folio's, a couple of the smaller patterns, a kit and sets A, B and C of the small cards that you get for free to promote larger patterns.  I have a Fox and the Grapes one that is too cute.  I don't know why I haven't done it yet.

I like patterns that are the same size so I can swap out of one frame.  That especially comes in handy when the pieces are seasonal.  

 The colors always go well together.  I love this group because the little village is the same but, in different seasons.

I have done the Spring/Summer set as well as the Thanksgiving and Christmas

 I have the whole set of the monthly.  I haven't done them all yet but, they are in the hopper.  I would someday like to do the smaller accompany piece that goes with them.

 I think the March one was the only one that isn't square.  That means I will have to get another frame for those.  I should see if the Fox and the Grapes fit in this frame.

I have done them for gifts.  I am participating in a Halloween and Thanksgiving ornament exchange and I think I am doing Prairie Schooler for the ornaments.  I like how she always uses DMC and except for some of the earlier ones, they use Lambswool Linen.  I have often bought all the Lambswool Linen at the Stitching Bee.

Well thanks for stopping.  I truly enjoy the comments.  I go back to work tomorrow...only five hours to start with to see how things go.  I work for a very understanding boss who just wants me back.  I figured I better burn off a blog tonight since I might be too tired tomorrow night.  Now I better sign off so I can go to sleep.

Keep on Stitching
Monica

TUSAL, Marquette and Lizzie*Kate Update

Yesterday, Katy and I went to Marquette, MI to do some shopping and have dinner with Ed.  He'll be busy the next week before he starts his second year in college.  He goes to NMU and as part of the college experience, students are provided with a computer to use while they are enrolled.  He has a job in Micro Repair.  He fixes the hardware.  He has been there all summer working and sublet a townhouse with some girls.  Holy Three's Company...not quite that quirky.  This coming week, they will be getting ready for the "Dome", the indoor football stadium where the computers will be distributed later in the week.  So, next week if he isn't crazy-nuts busy, he'll be exhausted.  He is excited for the free food, they are fed all week while working.  Imagine, FREE DONUTS!

We had dinner last night at a restaurant named L'Attitudes, very avant garde.  We ate on the patio and had a splendid view of Marquette's Lower Harbour.  Marquette had a regatta all week and hoped to see the sail boats coming back in but, it may have been done for the day.  It was a gorgeous day, about 70 degrees and breezy.  

 Right behind Ed is one of the old Iron Ore docks in Marquette.  They don't use this one anymore but, it is very cool.

 The two darlings...since they are going to two different colleges, they get along so much better.  This will probably be the last time they see each other before Thanksgiving.  Wow!

 We went all out on this dinner.  We had tappas and ended with Cheesecake Factory Cheesecake...Yum!!!!

Now down to business.  My latest TUSAL contribution.  Can you tell I've been working on Halloween stuff?  Notice the orange thread?

 I have resumed working on the Lizzie*Kate Mystery Sampler.  I need to do the satin stitches around the border but, I'm doing that when its done so they lay flat and don't get messed up while I continue with the rest of the sampler.  I am also waiting to the end to add the embellishments.  I have found, over the years, if I add beads as I go, sometimes the thread gets hung up on them.

 It really is fun.  Just have to be very careful with the counting.

 Well, I better be going...busy day!  I want to get some cleaning done.  My sister is here and staying with my mom.  We are having lunch there followed by another therapy session.  Monday, I go back to work.  I will be only working 4-5 hours a day for a little while until I know how things are going.  I think the biggest problem will be the swelling yet.  I don't think it will be too long before I'm back up and running (I don't run) at my usual pace.

Welcome new members.  I am so glad you have joined.  Once I hit 100.....
Thanks for the great comments!  Keep on stitching
Monica

No Stitching Pictures...What's Up with That

I still don't have any pictures of stitching to show you since it is sort of on the Q-T for now.  I may do some of the Mystery sampler so I have something to show by the next time I post.  I do have pictures of my purchase on Girls Weekend.  Last year we put a shed in the backyard.  I thought it needed some decoration on it since it is just brown.  I thought about buying some stars and may still do to put on the side wall since its a big wall.  I found this sun in a shop in Lakewood...and better yet IT WAS ON SALE!  I thought he would look lovely next to the door of the shed.  That's where Bob hung him and it looks pretty good.  I can also see him when I look out the kitchen window.  

 He makes me smile.  I may put him in the shed for the winter.  I haven't decided yet.  But, it might be good to have him on the shed for the winter, especially the dark days.

 This is the bracelet project that Micky brought.  It really did turn out cool.  Under the face of the sun is an end of a pheasant feather that was a pretty bluish, greenish greyish...if you know what I mean.

 Finally the pictures of my scrapbook pages.  I was really starting to poop out by this time.  I usually get a little more flamboyant but, I just was loosing steam.

 Jan had a great idea and she brought with her a catalog of plaques, coffee mugs, tee shirts with sayings on them for ideas on little things to say on the page.  The top page saying is, "Don't cry because its over.  Rejoice because it happened."  And the bottom, "The best thing is life is the people we love, the places we've been and memories we made along the way."  I thought that pretty much summed up the weekend.

Thanks for stopping by.  I swear next time I will have something stitchy to show you.  Thank you for taking the time to comment.  I love to hear from you.  Keep on stitching!

Monica

Girls Weekend 2012

Girls Weekend 2012 has come to an end.  We had a great time.  I have slowed down, related to the knee replacement.  I couldn't believe it would have affected me, causing me to slow down.  But, I persevered.  We always bring way too much wine and food.  We brought about eleven bottles of wine but, we only drank 4.  

 We all got there about 1 pm on Friday.  Once the cars were unpacked and stuff put away, and we visited with Mary Beth's mom and step dad who had been at the cottage for a few days and aired out the place, we had a little lunch and started on our first project.  Micky had brought two projects:  wooden bracelets we antiqued or painted and then embellished and bags  made out of duct tape and chip bags but, waiting to next year.  It is always so much fun to have the same supplies and have unique things come out of it.  It was a lot of fun.  I antiqued mine, stamped parts with a sun type stamp and then added the ends of some pheasant feathers and finished with modge-podge.  I should take a picture of the finished project.  Maybe tomorrow once I recharge the battery.  We worked outside on the deck.  I was a gorgeous day.

 Friday night, we always have dinner at Maiden Lake Inn.  It is a small restaurant on Maiden Lake.  The food is always great and since it is Friday night, we always get the fish fry.  We are in Wisconsin so Friday is always fish fry night.  It is a wait for dinner but, we were outside on the deck.  The outdoor bartender obligingly took our picture.  From left to right:  Jan, Micky, Me and Mary Beth.

Saturday morning I made Baked Oatmeal with Cinnamon and Apples from the blog:  Mennonite Girls Can Cook.  It was very tasty.  We started stringing our beads for the Kumihimo bracelets before venturing out.  We left about noon and headed to Wabeno to a Bistro and Art Gallery.  It was something else.  I am so sorry I didn't take a picture of the bathroom.  In the bathroom (which was rather large) there was a wicker settee with a naked manikin wrapped in Christmas light reclining.  It was very artistic.  The food was very good.  Mary Beth and I shared a White Album Pizza basically a chicken alfredo pizza.  Jan had the special which was Argentina cuisine, stewed pork, risotto, a sauce with chimichurra sausage and vegetables.  Micky had a Eggs Benedict with asparagus.  It was pretty quaint and artsy.  There was even musical entertainment...welcome to the commune.

 Micky and Jan

 Me and Mary Beth

 We did a little shopping in town.  After we came back.  Jan is involved in healing things:  yoga, wholisitic health, Reiki and Craniosacral therapy.  One of the things she started doing is purifying with Florida Water.  http://www.luckymojo.com/floridakanangawater.html.  This is a close explanation.  One of things the shaman does is atomatize it between their teeth....so they spit on you.  Sorry Jan.  We all laughed about that.
Picture of Micky working on her Kumihimo bracelet.  Picture of Jan below.

 Mary Beth working on hers.  The finished product below.  They turned out really great.  I think everyone enjoyed it.

 Jan made us a wonderful dinner of steak fajitas.  Saturday night, we always work on scrap booking the pictures from the previous year adventure.  I will have to take some pics of my pages...when my camera is recharged.  Unfortunately, I really hit the wall last night at 11:30 and had to go to bed.  Mary Beth and Micky stayed up and went out onto the deck to watch the Meteor Shower.  I heard it really was a show.  It lasted from midnight to dawn.    Too cloudy tonight to see if it's there.  I don't thing I would make it to midnight anyway.

Smoothies and breakfast burritos for breakfast.  Headed home.  It was so much fun.  I just love getting together with these ladies.  They are so awesome!  Unfortunately, stitching took a back seat.  Maybe that wasn't such a bad thing.

Glad you all stopped.  Thanks again for the great comments.  Keep on Stitching!
Monica

Strawberry Hill Update

Again, let me thank everyone who posted such good words of encouragement and prayers.  Katy really is doing very well.  She is still getting over the effects of the anesthesia but, that should get better every day.
Welcome new visitors!  It is so exciting when someone new joins the follower list.  And to everyone who has been a follower, thanks for popping in.
I finished the pinkeep portion of the Strawberry Hill Sampler.  I'm just cruising along.  The lighter green on the leaf section is not my favorite color.  I should have changed it out.  I think it is almost too light for the fabric.  I'm not going to change it now.  I have another large piece to do.

 I do really like the design and look forward to getting it all put together.

 I have been working on the freebie Pumpkin design from Notforgotten Farms  Freebie Challenge.  I can't show you any pictures of what I'm doing.  I also have Part II of the Lizzie*Kate Mystery Sampler.  I feel like I haven't been doing any stitching lately.  It has been a really busy week.  We got home yesterday afternoon about 4 pm.  I had stitching group last night.  Today was ober busy too with therapy, haircut and grocery store.  I am just pooped.  This weekend is my College Girl Weekend.  I get together with friends from college at my college roommates family cottage.  We will spend the weekend gabbing, eating, drinking some wine and scrapbooking the pictures from last year's adventure.

This is a picture of our Shih Tzu, Buster's head.  He was groomed on Monday.  He has developed this spot on the back of his head.  It looks like someone dipped their finger in ink and touched him.  I think it  is about the spot where I pulled a wood tick off him earlier this summer.  He also has a few more spots, not as pronounce around his rump.  It is really funny looking.  It doesn't bother him and the skin is not this color.

Thanks for stopping.  I got to get some stitching done.  Keep on stitching.
Monica

Surgery Went Well. I'm having trouble trying to blog with my IPad. Surgery went well. She is feeling very good with a minimal amount of pain. She said "I can't remember when I didn't have that pain". She is just a little groggy. Thank you everyone for your good wishes and prayers. We have really appreciate it. Hopefully, everything will continue to go well and we will be home tomorrow. If we didn't live four hours away, she could have gone home today.

Crazy Danger

We had the opportunity to get the bear rug hung in the living room.  We had enough people home to do it because it is tricky.  We have an open stairway to the basement and a big open wall.  We had a picture hanging on the wall.  It is a crazy dangerous way of doing it but, we haven't found a better way yet.  Me, Katy and Ryan her BF, kind of a cool picture.  

 We have to put 2x4 boards between the rails and then there is a lip across the stairs where the other end goes.  We have to stand on the boards so they don't move while Bob and Ed walk and stand on them to hang the rug.

 Isn't this just an accident waiting to happen.

 Bob isn't exactly tall enough to tack in the leg.  So at first he was going to stand on a bucket just on the 2x4's.  Saner heads prevailed and I suggested a piece of ply wood across and a small stool that was considerably more steady than a plastic bucket.

 Bob and the finished product.  It really does look cool.

 Final shot of the bear.
I have started on the pin keep for Strawberry Hill Sampler.  I know it is kind of wrinkly.  I'll iron when I'm ready to finish it off.

 I turned it and it looks a little less shadowy.

I won't be posting for a few days.  My daughter is having a metal rod removed from under her rib cage.  She had it put in two years ago to push the rib cage and sternum out.  She had a condition called Pectus Excavatum where the sternum or breast bone is sunk it, sometimes called funnel chest.  She had A LOT of pain associated with it therefore, we decided to pursue this surgical correction.  We had been down all the avenues.  The bar usually stays in for three years but, around Thanksgiving she felt it moved.  She is old enough and skeletally mature enough, the surgeon felt it was safe to come out.  The surgery is much less extensive than putting it in.  She may not need to but, we will probably ask for her to stay overnight since the children's hospital is 200 miles away.  The recovery will be much less than the initial surgery.  Keep us in your prayers, nonetheless.
Thanks again for stopping, joining and all the wonderful comments.  It keeps me blogging.

Keep on stitching.