Wow, it's been awhile.....

I can't believe this is my first post of the year! Time is flying by! Not going to go into my family and personal stuff in this post....today it's all about the stitching. So without further blabbering......

I posted a challenge in my group KraftersKorner for everyone to stitch up 2 ornaments a month from January to June. In June we'll have 12 ornaments and pick a day to "finish" them into ornaments. Here are my January ornies....

In Suz's group, StitchesandStuff, we are doing a seasonal SAL where we could all choose to work on the same pattern or pick our own. I chose my own since I happen to have some Lizzie Kate seasonal boxers. This is my winter SAL.....

I know it's a bit late since Valentine's has come and gone, but I did stitch a little something for the holiday. I'll finish it off on the big finishing day in June. I've had this chart, fabric and floss for over a year. Jennifer sent it to me as an exchange and I just never had the chance to pull it out and work on it. I'm liking it and think it may end up as a little cube to decorate a shelf next year.

Next we have my challenge ornaments for February. The snowman was a freebie from online somewhere...it escapes me at the moment. "Humbug" was a chart found in a pile of junk at a thrift store...it was a photo copy so had no idea what it would even look like, but it just called to me to give it a go as an ornament, so off I went and that's what it came out like. I think it's kinda cute.

Next is a new little SAL I found online. Not sure why I like it, but I do. I've got January and February finished so far, still gotta catch up on March but it's a quick stitch so I'll get it done this week sometime. We are also doing this as a SAL in StitchesandStuff so it'll be fun to see how everyone chooses floss and fabric.

While going through some boxes in the garage last week, I ran onto 2 little "shelves". I pulled them aside and thought I'd stitch up something for them and hang them up in my living room. Since I'm desperately trying to have an African/Safari "theme" I started searching for something small that would fit in them. What I found was perfect for the shelves...one will be a realistic looking rhino and the other will be a realistic looking hippo. I have the rhino started but no pic yet. Hoping to finish both of these in the next week or two and have some "finished" shelves to show you in the next post. Here's a pic of one of the ugly little things....

Obviously I have NOT stuck to my goals this year. Lots of reasons and excuses, but hey, at least I'm stitching. Hope eveyone has their needles smoking and the frogs are staying away. Hugs to all my stitching friends!

Looking forward to a new year....

The holiday has come and gone and I'm ready for the new year. I thought I'd start this final blog entry for 2010 with a few pics of mom's last project. Mom works for the school district as a kitchen manager for one of the elementary schools...yep, she's a "lunch lady"..LOL This year for her work party she made a gingerbread train. It turned out really cute and the ENTIRE thing is edible! Even the base it's sitting on! This first pic is the engine.....
Next we have the coal car and the wood hauler.......

And finally, the caboose.....

The "snow" is flaked coconut and the rocks are chocolate pieces. Who knew they sold that kind of thing?

The coal in the coal car is actually coal shaped chocolates.....

Here's what the entire thing looks like....complete with a tiny pond!

Ok, so that ends the holiday festivities for me....LOL On to new and exciting things.....




On Christmas Day there was a package tied to the mailbox. It had been torn in half and opened, but inside it had this.....

My very own Cross Stitch a day Calendar for 2011! My friend Janet RAK'ed me for Christmas! I've been wanting one of these calendars for as long as I can remember and have never been able to find one. I'm so thrilled! I've found a bunch of cute little things to stitch for the new year so I have a feeling you'll all be seeing a lot of this calendar in the coming months. :)


This year I'm starting something new for myself. I've always made plans to get things done, but seem to lose momentum not long after the plans are made. So...to start of the new year right, I've decided to start making monthly goals. I'll list those goals here on my blog and at the end of the month we'll see how good I did. Here's my pile of things for January 2011:

There is one thing missing from the pile, a crochet afghan. I'm determined I'm gonna learn how to crochet this year. Here's the breakdown of my plans:

2 sections (H & R) on Lizzie Kate "Christmas by the Letter"

2 sections (believe & care) on Lizzie Kate "Living with Charm", this is part of a UFO challenge in the stitcherhood group.

200 stitches in moms "moose sampler". This was suppose to be done a year ago but hasn't seen the light of day in months! This is another UFO challenge piece for the stitcherhood group.

1 page (part 4) of Alla Turca. This is an old SAL that I'm gonna be stitching along with Carla in the stitcherhood group.

I am also going to be starting a few new things in January.

2 ornaments for a 12 ornament challenge in KraftersKorner. (JBW designs "mitten collection")

Lizzie Kate "Winter" boxer for a seasonal SAL in Stitchesandstuff group.

2 squares on "Grand Marquoir" an old SAL that never got started.

1 square on Bent Creek "Red Thread Snappers"

And, last but not least.....I'm gonna attempt to start an afghan. I've wanted to learn to crochet for a long time and have decided this is the year to try it out. Sometime in January I'll be fighting the yarn monkeys and giving it a whirl. Kinda scared about that one!

Anyway, those are my goals for January 2011! I'll update sometime during January and let you all know how it's going. Wish me luck on accomplishing at least *part* of all this...LOL

Hugs to everyone and I hope everyone has a wonderful 2011!

November is Flying by!

Wow, can you believe November is halfway over? Seems like the months have just flown by this year! I have been trying to stay busy with my crafty things. Most of you know that I have been putting together charity quilts this year....this is the next one:
The martians were stitched up by 6 different ladies over the last few months and they did a wonderful job! This quilt will make someone very happy!


This next little piece is a block for a "girly theme" charity quilt. For some reason this little piece took me forever to finish, I just couldn't get interested in it. But now that it's done, I can do a happy dance and say I have a finish...hee hee! I'm hoping to have all the blocks for that quilt soon and if I'm lucky it'll be the next quilt I get to show everyone.

This week I recieved these lovely goodies in the mail......

My name was picked from the "hat" and I won these wonderful magazines and tea from Regina over at:
http://oubliette-riona.blogspot.com/

be sure to check out her wonderful blog when you all get a chance. Thank you so much for the great surprise! I can't wait to try out the tea!

After having one great surprise come in the mail, I recieved yet another via 123stitch. I *thought* it was the package that I had ordered for some exchanges but the surprise was on me....

The message board over at 123stitch is having a secret santa wishlist exchange for the holidays. I received this lovely package from my secret santa. I don't have any idea who she is, but she made my day! It was an absolutely much needed surprise on a very bad day. I had just gotten news that hubby's grandma is passing, so this came at the perfect time. Thank you secret santa, whoever you are!

Well, that's my last 2 weeks or so in a nutshell. Nothing overly exciting, but hey, at least I'm making some crafty progress. :) Hugs to all my stitching family, I love each and every one of you dearly and you all brighten my days when I most need it. Keep those needles smokin!

Here's a great giveaway!

At Willow Tree Pond: My 100th Post Giveaway!: "This year has flown by! I can't thank you all enough for the nice comments and suggestions that my followers post. But wait! I will try :..."

Fall is Here...

It's hard to believe Fall is here again! It seems like the years are flying by. My boys are in full swing of school this year and doing really well. Both boys recieved scholarships for 1 year of Karate lessons! The school gave out 5 scholarships and both my boys recieved one! Yep, I'm a proud mom! They had their first lesson on Friday and both love it!

About a month ago I was contacted by an old high school friend through facebook. She had heard through the grapevine that I had been making quilts for charity so she asked if I'd be willing to make one for her. She is involved with a womans group that makes care packages for our soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afganistan. They are having a chili feed and auction next weekend to raise money for the care packages and she asked if I'd make one for the auction. I felt it was a good cause and those care packages will mean alot to a soldier away from home and missing his or her family, so off I went to dig through my stash and this is what I came up with...

I haven't worked on my LK Living with Charm series for a while so I recently pulled it back out and did a couple more words. I hope to have it done by the end of the year. I'm at the halfway mark now so I should make it.

This next pic is a new start for me. My friend Jennifer did these charts a while back and decided she would 'PIF' them on to me. In turn I have to send them on to Tina when I am done. I've had them sitting here forever and thought I better get stitching before Tina gives up on me ever getting them done, LOL This is my progress so far... not much but it'll get there!

That about wraps up my little world for now. Not alot of excitement in my world but I am blessed with a wonderful husband and great kids...and all of you amazing stitching friends. I love each and every one of you! Keep those needles moving!

Busy Busy Busy Times....

I can't believe it's been 2 weeks since I've been here! Time sure flies! I've been stitching and sewing alot lately. Last week I finished this little letter "N" for one of the charity quilts. Not sure what the little critters are suppose to be, but I think they turned out kinda cute.

Since we are so close to Halloween and I needed a quick finish to get my groove back, I thought I'd stitch up this little cutie. I think it's a freebie from Primitive Betty's but I can't remember for sure. I'm thinking it would make a cute little pin pillow.

Last weekend Mom invited me to go shopping. I picked up a few things.....

There's more but I forgot to take a pic of the other bag of goodies.

We recently did a couple of exchanges in KraftersKorner and I recieved this little ornament and goodies from Vicky. Love the snowman! He will look absolutely adorable hanging on my tree. Thank you Vicky, he is fabulous!

Another exchange we did recently is a Halloween Pin. I recieved this adorable little witch from my dear friend Ethel, along with a fat quarter of purple fabric and some Mill Hill beads. I love the witch and I can't wait to wear it for Halloween! Ethel, thank you for the goodies, I will wear the pin proudly!

That's it for the crafty part of life. Hubby had surgery yesterday to remove his teeth and get dentures. He was in for an hour and a half and came out with the dentures in his mouth. I felt so darn bad for the guy, he was a mess. I can honestly say I have never seen my husband drool until yesterday, and let me tell you.....it was FUNNY! I've never laughed so hard in my life. He's doing better today and taking his pain meds like a good boy. I'm thinking he'll probably sleep most of the day today because whatever they gave him makes him loopy or high or something....maybe happy would be a better word...LOL

Anyway, that's it for my boring update. Hope everyone is keeping those needles busy and enjoying the fall weather. Hugs to all my stitchy friends, you really are the best and I love you all dearly!

A busy week for me!

What a busy week it's been for me! On Monday & Tuesday I finally got around to putting one of the charity quilts together. Carein had sent me some cute little diaper pin alphabet blocks months ago and with the move I just didn't have time to get things together the way I had intended. I figured I better get on the ball and start doing some things before I fall so far behind I can't catch up. Here is the first project of the week.......
The picture just doesn't do it justice. The little blocks are absolutely adorable! The 'white' part of the edge has little bitty pastel alphabet letters scattered all over it.
Next is a little train for another charity quilt that will have a "toy box" theme. I've got 10 more of these little blocks to do so it will be a bit before you get to see that one.

Yesterday I started cutting the fabric for this next piece. I got it all cut and the red part sewed on thinking I'd finish the rest today. Woke up this morning and got the blue border on, sandwiched it together, sewed it all up and realized I had it inside out! I could not for the life of me find a darned seam ripper anywhere! Three hours later after using my teeny gingher embroidery scissors, it was ripped apart and ready to re-sew. This is the final product......

It will also be going to charity. I hope the child that recieves it enjoys the cute animals and finds some comfort in it.

After all the darned irritation over the quilt fiasco, I finally got the mail. I recieved a wonderful much needed RAK from Carein! She sent a few candies with a little note explaining the meaning behind each piece she chose. It was a wonderful surprise this afternoon after all the tears over the quilt. Thank you so much Carein for brightening my day!

That's it for this week. I'm hoping next week I can stay on this kick and get more done. Hugs to all my stitchy friends, you all make my heart sing! :)