Clothing & Stitching Stash

That's exactly what I got for Christmas, and it's perfect.  I haven't really purchased new clothing for about two years and all of my work gear was looking old, ragged, and faded.  I didn't want to wear any of it any more.  Thank you Mom & Dad for all this... and Lane Bryant for having everything on sale at 50% off.

Above is four work shirts, and a dark blue cami.  Below are two sweaters, two casual shirts, a white cami, two pair of slacks, and a new pair of jeans.  Good stuff!!

My siblings were great and contributed the stitching stash. ... It helped that I gave them a list of things to choose from, and I got everything on my list.

The last three patterns for Lizzie*Kate's 6 Fat Men, L*K's HoHoHo quick it, and Country Cottage Needleworks Gingerbread Houses.  Plus the 2012 cross stitch calendar and a dog calendar.  I've never had the cross stitch calendar before, so it will be interesting to see how I like it.

I've also figured out how to add a tab (or page or whatever you call it) to the top of my blog and added the list of projects to work on for the Wipocalypse.  I'm so proud of myself for that... And now I might be a little bit dangerous... Dangerous enough to muck everything up but good!

Hugs and Stitches,
Kay

TUSAL - December 24th, 2011

Merry Christmas Eve.  I hope you are well and safe, surrounded by your loved ones.  That's pretty much what's going on here.  Plus there is more candy and snacks than should be allowed.  My stitching mojo is back, and I've put a few more stitches into the Merry 15 biscornu.

And here is my last TUSAL picture of the year.  Not much added to it since I didn't stitch for about three weeks.  But it is festively surrounded by the stuff around the tree.

Merry Christmas, everyone!
Hugs and Stitches,
Kay

No-go, 'cause of lack of Mojo

I didn't put a single stitch in anything this week.  The mojo has gone on holiday break, I'm afraid.  I'm not too worried about it at this point, it' seems to be a seasonal thing, and should be back in a couple of weeks.

Instead of stitching, I spent my time reading and catching up on all of your blogs.  I really love seeing what everyone else is stitching... and the side effect of adding previously unknown patterns to the stash isn't all that bad either.  I just need to get better at remembering to comment.

I spent an evening hunting around for some new Christmas backgrounds and what-not for the blog.  I added some, I removed some, I read tutorials on how to customize buttons... and in the end... I didn't change backgrounds.  I just didn't find anything out there that really called my name.  I did learn how to do the linky thing with an image and have added the buttons for the TUSAL and IHSW to the sidebar, along with a text link to the Wipocolypse.  I was very proud of myself for that little accomplishment.  I am thinking about adding tabs... or pages... or whatever they are called, to the top for things like my WIPocolypse list.  I also want to do one for my 2011 finishes like so many of you have done.  It's a great idea and I don't feel bad at all for copying it.

I spent some time on Saturday and Sunday dog-sitting for brother #1.  His terrier/lab mix got in a bit of a fight with another dog right before he and his wife were to go off for a quick weekend get away.  I said I'd come and take care of Sadie so they could go ahead and go on their get away.  Sadie and I hung out on the couch, watched tv, and read blogs.  Well, I read, Sadie just wanted scratches behind her ears.  Sadie is on the mend and pretty much back to her playful self.

My family has an odd quirk that we do at Christmas (other than going to the local 24 hr burrito place for giant burritos on Christmas Eve.).  Now, everyone out there shops for the occasional gift for themself, and we do that too.  Only we bring it home and wrap it up and put it under the tree.  We even label it to ourselves, and then pick some other random family member to say who it's from.  Brother #2's wife had a hard time with this the first few years she was with us because it wasn't a surprise to us.  We chuckled and said "It's a surprise to someone!"  I'm always surprised at the shirts, pants, socks, or belts that I 'get' for Dad every year.   Anyway... In a fit of crazy the otherday, I wrapped up all the stash that I bought at the first of December when LMS and I went on our mini shop hop.  My brothers are going to be amazed that they got me the gingerbread buildings.  And the sisters-in-law will be surprised for all the hardanger books they found too.

My sister flies in tonight from medical school.  I am excited to see her.  I just finished re-arranging my stitching lair back into a spare room.  I hope she'll be comfortable.

Mom made caramels.  The holiday browse has gone into full swing and I haven't been to the gym all month!

Hugs and Stitches,
Kay

Busy as a little bee

This week was pretty busy at work.  I have been helping with a database conversion and in the past month or so it became apparent that a little assistance was needed.  On Monday I got two temps to help and a third arrived on Friday.  So all week I've been training them on what needs to be done and the sorts of things to look for and ask questions about.  I didn't get a lot of my regular stuff done, so I'm going to continue to be as busy as can be, probably through the end of the year.

Lizzie*Kate's Christmas ABC's became the at work project, but with training my temps I didn't really get to stitch on it at all.  So no progress to show off on that.  I went to my last hardanger class on Tuesday and practiced a bit of the blanket stitch before loosing interest and pulling out the Merry 15 biscornu to work on instead.  I decided to purchase a couple of hardanger instruction books and they arrived in the mail from Nordic Needle this past week.  (Don't you just love Nordic Needles' mail order catalog?  I've spent hours pouring through it's pages since it arrived with my order.)

I don't know that I'll ever really attack a purely hardanger piece, but I am glad that I can navigate the instructions when hardanger in included in a cross stitch piece.  All in all, the class was completely worth my time and money.  I'm thinking of attacking one of those tassel/ornaments as one of my Christmas in December stitching projects.

Speaking of the Chrirstmas in December focus, here is my progress on the Merry 15 biscornu.  All of the red and green bits of borders are done, along with one snowflake and one tree block.  These are fairly easy to stitch, the spectacular comes from all the colors and the beads that will be added once I finish the stitching.  I'm thinking I was overly ambitious when I pulled six projects out of my stash to work on.  I'm starting to think that I'll be lucky if I get the biscornu done in December!!

Last week while I was up at Shepherds Bush, I asked about ordering 24 skeins of GAST's Current so I can stitch up the Christmas Quaker II: Songs of the season.  They had to order it in for me so that the floss would be of the same dye lot and the package arrived on Friday of this week.  Talk about speedy service!  Now I just need to figure out where I put the pattern, green flosses, and fabric for this project.  I know it's around here somewhere...

The buttons are for This is Christmas by Raise the Roof, one of the projects I pulled out for Christmas in December.  I moved the hoop on my Nativity Sampler today.  Before moving the hoop, I finished up the green in the pine tree, added a cardinal at the top of the tree and put the beard on the shepherd.  It's a good thing that I don't have any plans for finishing this up this month!

And lastly, Mom sewed these up for me.  Two are Christmas presents for my Sisters-in-Law, and one is for me.  They are still looking a bit funky because I've put the stuffing in them, but haven't sewen up the opening yet.  Once I do that, they will look just fine. I'll start sewing them closed after I finish up this post.  My SIL's love Halloween more than they do Christmas.  So I've been making a Halloween ornament for them for Christmas.  Right now, they have more Halloween ornaments (2 each), than I have of Christmas ornaments (zero!)!!!

I have their ornament for next year all picked out an ready to go.  I have the flosses and fabric all picked out too.  I have my Mom's Christmas present picked out for next year too.  However, Mom and Dad are leaving the country for 18 months in April... so... Do I even start on her project or do I wait until they come back?  It's quite tempting to wait.  I miss stitching on Flower Power.

Hugs and Stitches,
Kay

A mini shop hop with LMS

That's what I did Saturday, drove alot, spent more than I should have. I'm thinking it's time to go back on the $20 a month stitching allowance again. That almost worked for half of 2011.

We started off at Shepherd Bush. It really is just a treasure trove of everything. I had a small list of floss and some buttons that I wanted to pick up and I got those, plus a few more things.

Above are most of the flosses I needed, plus some white fabric for hardanger class project.  I think I am going to use the purple checked fabric for the cute little ornament with the snowman button on the side and the word ... ...

You know... I couldn't remember the word for that ornament, so I just went and searched through my magazines from this year and couldn't find the ornament!  I know I've seen other people stitch it up, and I know I have the pattern somewhere...  If you know what I'm talking about, can you please point me in the right direction?

I've seen those darling cream boxes all year and always thought about getting one.  Well, I finally did.  I also got a Shepherds Bush pattern to stitch up and put in it.  It's the blue one, in the middle of the bottom row, below.

I couldn't resists Fa La La, all packaged up for fun in a stocking, plus three more scissor fobs.  I guess that little bit of small stitching that I've managed to do had cheered me along a little bit.  They didn't have everything that I was looking for, so I put in an order for some buttons to go on This is Christmas by Raise the Roof, and a couple skeins of current floss to stitch up Songs of the Season.

Our next stop was to The Craft Center of Fine Stitchery.  It was their open house day and everything in the shop was 20% off.  I started by collecting the couple skeins of floss that I needed that Shepherds Bush was out of, and then wandered around looking at everything.

I've loved the 'Gingerbread' stitched houses since they came out and the chapel is a lovely addition to the collection.  And at 20% off with the floss and charm pack... well... I didn't say no.  I also picked up a french pattern of ornaments.  It's charted in one color, but I've seen it done up in reds, greens, and golds that was absolutely stunning.  I think I shall give it a go that way... one of these eons.

I had already paid for my purchases and was over by the snacks table when I spotted the basket of new stuff.  With cookie in hand, I sat down and went through the basket.  And found a few more things that were calling my name.

The Last Stitch Cemetery made me laugh, so it was added to the basket.  I love the whimical Christmas by the Cricket Collection.  And Ornaments Ala Round by Glendon Place was just stunning.  It had to come home with me too.  I think I feel a serious case of startitis coming on!!

LMS got some lovely fabrics and flosses at both stops for an angel she is going to put together for the top of her Christmas tree.  She also found me a Christmas Present. (I found a present for her and gave it to her before taking a picture of it.)

I do love sparkly glass thingies.

Tired and shopped out, we came home.

I should not need to buy anything else until the beginning of the year.  And then it's a $20 a month budget. ... but I still need the skein of B5200 that I have still not managed to pick up.

Hugs and Stitches,
Kay

Another busy week

Last week started out quite nice. Mom and I braved the crowds of shoppers on Saturday evening (November 26th) and went to Hobby Lobby and JoAnns. She was looking for some books on thread crochet and I was after some flosses on sale. She found her book, and I got my flosses, plus this book that was on clearance at Hobby Lobby.

I can't tell you how many times I've picked this book up and put it down again.  You see, I'm not really ever going to make any of the pincushions they show, even though some of the ideas are really cute.  I liked some of the stitching designs that were in the book, especially the pansies.  But the book was too much for the few patterns that I did like.  However, the price of the book on clearance.  Totally worth it!

I have decided to go ahead and stitch up little Christmas things in December.  So I rummaged through my stash and came up with half a dozen possibilites.  I started with a little scissor fab kit that I got from Shepherds Bush some time ago.  It didn't take too much time to get it all stitched up.  I just need to take it downstairs and run it through the sewing machine and I'll be just about done.

There is the bit about attaching the ribbon with beads and what not, but I'm sure that won't take too long.  At least, I hope not.  With this little piece all but done, I looked at my selected projects and decided the next one to work on will be the Merry Fifteen Christmas biscornu that I bought a couple of years ago as well.  I decided to start on the red fabric, as it seemed the most difficult to work with, it being so dark in color.  I've started in on the borders, but only the green bit is showing up in pictures.  I seem to have forgotten to pick up some B5200 at JoAnns, so need to go back and get a skein.

That's just part of the pattern showing up behind my fabric...  Here are the other things that I picked out to work on in December.  I don't think I'll get to them all, but I can certainly try!

Clockwise from upper left is: Be Merry by Shepherds Bush, Christmas Tree scissor fob by The Victoria Sampler (from the 2010 JCS ornament book.), Fa La La from Lizzie*Kate, and This is Christmas by Raise the Roof Designs.  I already have the fabric and floss for each of these, so I can pretty much start one when-ever I feel like it... Or as soon as I complete the 15 sided biscornu.  I think on these things, it's going to be a one project at a time kind of deal.

Since December has become Christmas Stitching month, I decided to take Christmas ABC's to work and have it be my at work project.  I don't know if I'm getting ay more done on it than I was at home, but I do know it's getting a little bit of attention each day.  Here is where I finished off on Friday.

I don't have much to show from Hardanger Class on Tuesday.  The instuctor liked my little ornament, and I'm supposed to be working on a buttonhole stitch edging.  I would rather work on my other christmas stitching, and so that's what i've been doing.  As you can see, I did start to mark off the middle of the blocks for calculating a scalloped border, but... I'd rather work on other stuff...

While at the shop for class, I wandered upstairs to the bargain 'basement' and picked up a couple of cute L*K designs that were 50% off.  Not bad.  Up on the woof top just cracks me up.

We were given some white fabric and another homework assignment at hardanger class.  I flipped through all my books here at home and didn't find anything that really spoke to me.  So I started looking for some things online to see what I could see.  Of course, I found some wonderful stuff at 123 Stitch.  I decided on the Pansy Sampler from The Victoria Sampler to stitch on the white fabric... And since I was putting in an order, I decided on a couple more pansy patterns to add to the dream boxes.

I did some counting with the white fabric we were given and my pansy sampler stuff is just a bit to wide to fit on it.  Hmmm... I'm going to have to modify, or get new fabric.  After talking to LMS who did start working on the white fabric, I'm thinking it'll be new fabric and LMS hates the stuff we were given to work on.

When I stopped by 123 Stitch to pick up my order, the ladies had patterns and what not all over the office.  I said that they looked very busy, and they told me that they were going to be having a sale on Friday and Saturday.  "Really?! A sale where I can come and wander around the warehouse like it's a retail store!?"  Yes they said. From 8 am to 5 pm on Friday (December 2nd), and 8 am to Noon on Saturday (December 3rd).  "Noooooooo!"  The time that I had free and could go look at everything would have been after noon on Saturday!

I worked some on my Heirloom Nativity sampler today.  Mostly added confetti stitched snow.  It doesn't really show up on the picture, but it is there.

Hugs and Stitches,
Kay

How the weekend does just fly by

I'm pretty sure I had four days off, but some how it barely feels like one.

I stitched along on Flower Power to my great contentment. Mostly backstitching on the Daisy and the start of lots of leaves.

I added the backstitching to the tree on the right.  Since the color is a bluey-gray-green color, it must be a blue spruce that's been added.  I'm thinking some more snow next week, and I'll move the hoops over to the other side of the shepherds block.

And lastly, I went through my stash and pulled out a few small ornament sized things and decided I would stitch Christmas in December.  So I started on this little ornament/scissor fob that I picked up at Shepherds Bush a few years ago.  No reason to let these linger in the stash.

Hope you have a good week!
Hugs and Stitches,
Kay

TUSAL - November 25th, 2011

Oh yeah, today is TUSAL day!

My Little piles, from left to right are from: Christmas ABC's, Hardanger Class/Homework, Nativity Sampler, Something Wicked, and Flower Power!  Hurray for lots of ORTs!  And all into the jar they go.

Hugs and Stitches,
Kay

Oh yeah, I picked some stuff up from the framer!

Tuesday I went up to my framers house to pick up some pieces.  Here they are:

Crabby All Year by Raise the Roof Designs.

Bless Our Home by Country Cottage Needleworks:

Christmas Eve by Prairie Schooler:

I haven't quite decided where to hang them up yet.  For now, Crabby All Year is wrapped up for Mom's Christmas Present.  I am considering places on the walls of my bedroom as to where to hang the other two.  Christmas Eve will have to go on my Christmas wall, it's just a matter of where. Bless Our Home might end up over here next to the computer/stitching desk.

Other than picking up my framing, Tuesday was a little exciting as I managed to avoid a serious collision on the freeway.  As I was headed north bound towards my framers, I exited from the main line to the belt route.  On this small section of collector ramps is an area where an on ramp joins from the left and two lanes become three.  I was in the left most of lane (of the two lane section before the third lane joins to the left) and noticed a large SUV on the ramp to the left.  I didn't think much of it as people come on on that ramp all the time.

Well, I should have paid more attention because as the on ramp lane became part of the flow, the driver of the SUV kept on merging to the right.  ... Right into the space I was!!!  I stomped on the gas to try and get away, there was a car next to me on the right, so I really couldn't merge out of the way.  SUV and I did make contact, but it was minimal since I was accelerating and crowding the lane to my right.  No real damage done to me or my car.  Just some streaks of paint back on my left-side quarter panel.  So... remember people... ALWAYS CHECK YOUR BLIND SPOT!!!

Hugs and Stitches
Kay

A slow week for stitching

Sunday started the week off pretty good. I added another shepherd to the Heirloom Nativity.  I just need to add his beard and he'll be done.  It looks like I'll be doing a bunch of back-stitching/long-stitching to get the branches on the tree by the sheep this week.

I brought Something Wicked home from work on Wednesday (due to the long holiday weekend) and worked on it pretty steadily yesterday.  There wasn't much to get done on it, and now it is all but done.  I want to pick up a few spider buttons to add where those dangling threads are.  This turned out so well, and I never could have done it with out the fabric I won from Jennifer.  Thank you so much, again, for letting me have this fabby!!

And lastly, I've been plugging along on my Hardanger Class homework.  As I was stiching on it last night I realized that there wasn't much actual hardanger in the piece!  I'm going to have to sit and think about this for a bit.  I might be able to squeeze in a few more kloster blocks and some doves eyes there in the corners.  And I haven't completely given up the idea of a scalloped border.  We'll see what time dictates.

And now, I think I am going to go put in some quality time with Flower Power.  It's been two weeks and I've missed it.

Hugs & Stitches
Kay

Friday night and Saturday

All day Friday at work I was thinking that I would finally get to come home and do some stitching.  Wrong!  Mom had volunteered us to help out at the wedding reception for the daughter of one of our neighbors.  Our neighbors are caterers and they put on a pretty large spread at their receptions.  It's typically a family run operation but since they are all front of the house greeting family and friend, the neighbors pitch in and help out back of the house. 

I helped keep the fruit and veggie platters neat and stocked, and helped out with the cheese and cracker platters as well.  Some times I helped load canapes onto trays for the neighbor boys to take out and pass around to the guests.  It was a lot of fun to visit with my neighbors and help out.  I didn't get much of the meal that they served, but I did manage to get a couple a crepes from the crepe station.  One had bananas and nutella in it, the other had sweet cream in it.  I added strawberries and whipped cream.  Totally yummy!

Today, after working my morning shift in the temple, I had to run a few errands.  A trip to Target was in the works to pick up a perscription, but I can't go to Target and just walk in and walk out.  No no no no no.  I must wander around and look at practically everything!  As I was checking everything out, I started to ponder the state of our Christmas Stockings.  The stocking themselves are fine... It's the contents that need a little help.  (Last year, I pondered the same thing at about the same time my Mom was thinking about it.  We came to two completely different solutions.  Her solution was to scrap putting anything in the stockings at all!!!  My solution was to buy some fun little toys, simple snapper type fireworks, and holiday themed candy.)  So I circled the toy department and picked up some this and that.

I decided to go to JoAnn's and see what they had on the way of 5 size pearl cotton since I'd about convinced myself that I'd need some in that size along with the 8 and 12 I bought on Thursday.  They had the colors I wanted, plus a few other things that I added to the collection of stocking stuffers. (All pictured above.)

I've been pondering a bit about making something to stick my threaded needles into as I'm stitching.  This method is working pretty well:

But I'm thinking of something more box like.  In the Jewelry asile I found some nice sized boxes that were on sale, so I picked up a package.  I went looking for some styrofoam sheets, but didn't see any.  I know Hobby Lobby has it, so I'll wander by there when I'm ready to make up my holder.  I'm thinking I can cut the styrofoam  sheet to fit inside of the box, and then using Excel make up a grid so I can write the color and symbol of the colors on, and leave a space to put the needle.  I've got it all worked out in my head, I just need to get around to doing it.

I did get the pearl cottons I wanted.  They do carry and okay selection and I was lucky to have picked out the most common colors when I bought my 8 and 12 cottons on Thursday.  I think I'm about ready to attack the hardanger homework... I just need to grid up the fabric and go to town.  Still pondering on that scalloped edge though... I picked up some needles (because I always do when I go into JoAnn's) and some dimensional stickers that I think I'll use to make another of my home made needle minders.

And then I've blogged about my whole week, and Saturday is about done and I haven't gotten to the stitchy chair!  Although, amazingly enough, I did manage to fit in a little bit of stitching.  I'm starting to see the end of Something Wicked.  But like most projects, I keep thinking I'll be done with it sooner than what is actually taking place.

That boot is just crazy awesome!  I also managed to get a few hours in on Flower Power.  I've started to add the Shasta Daisys.  The shading is just amazing, and doesn't really photograph at all.

I know I mentioned it before, but I really am thinking about stitching nothing but Christmas stuff in December.  I have most of the L*K Santa's that are crying out to be stitched.  Plus several of the Mill Hill diamond ornament kits.  I would love to have an ornament tree, but I don't have any ornaments!  (For some crazy reason, when I look at a small pattern I think "That will take too long." but when I look at a big pattern I think "No problem!")  I'm going to have to start somewhere with making ornaments to have an ornament tree.  Maybe this December is the time to start.

Okay, I'm going to hush-up now.  Y'all have a great weekend.
Hugs and Stitches,
Kay

Thursday evening with MD

Earlier in the week I had made plans to meet up with MD for dinner.  She had some questions about a cross stitch project she was working and needed some help.  Since she has a newish work schedule, she can't make Crafty-Stitchy night anymore.  (I'm trying to get her addicted to cross stitch.)

Originally, I was going to be a good girl and go to the gym after work, before meeting for dinner.  But the obsession with finding colored pearl cotton was starting to take over.  So I skipped the gym and we met at The Craft Center of Fine Stitchery.  I found the pearl cottons I wanted in 8 and 12 sizes.  Now that I'm thinking about it, I should have picked up some 5 size as well.  Hrm...

While there, I happened across a pattern for some beautiful purple pansies, so I had no choice but to buy it, along with the few skeins of Anchor floss called for.  (I have practically nill stash of Anchor.)  I also bought some 28 ct. waterlilies linen to stitch it on.  The owner of the shop helpfully enabled me into picking up another pattern with pansies in it, (this one by Lavender and Lace), and I bought some more waterlilies linen for it.

I then made the mistake of wandering past their Curio of Wonders... And had to bring home a bowl made of pink iridescent glass with a flower frog on it.  Love it! Mine!  I also picked up a Christmas Needle Minder.  What are the two things I love?  That's right, Christmas and Pansies.

MD picked up a packet of needles and some floss away bags.  I couldn't talk her into anything else.  Talk about serious discipline!

Purchases made, we went to dinner at a Paradise Bakery that was just down the road a bit.  We ate and chatted for a couple of hours and I was able to answer all of her cross stitch questions. 

Next door to Paradise Bakery is a World Market.  I went into one of these once when I was living in the North Bay area of California, but it's been so long that I can't recall much about it.  MD was looking for some Lady Grey tea and I went along for the fun of it.  Talk about an adventure for a (practically) first timer!  All sorts of food stuffs from all over the globe!  Awesome!

I was doing good and resisting all the sweet treats until I came to asile with Aussie cookie (biscuits)...  They had Tim Tams!  Real ones made by Arnott's!  Not the (pretty good) ones that Pepperidge Farm makes and you can only get around the holidays.  I love Tim Tams.  They are one of my favorite cookies (biscuits).  And you know what I did... I resisted.  That's right.  I stared down the Tim Tams and didn't pick any up.  The reason is... If there is an open package, there is an empty package.  I just couldn't take the risk of a full on pig-out this close to the holiday eat-fest.  I examined all of the other Aussie cookies (biscuits) and decided to give the Caramel Crowns a go.

They have caramel in them, and I love caramel.  I'm sad to say, that the Caramel Crowns induced a Tim Tam like pig-out once the package was open.  At least they made it home to get it's picture taken.  I do love me some Aussie cookies (biscuits).

I got a little surprise when I unwrapped the bowl from the tissue paper that it was wraped in.  There's no bottom to the bowl!  In fact, after closer inspection... I think it was origanally used as a pendent light fixture.

It's still very pretty, but now I am trying to figure out how to add a "bottom" to the bowl.  I suppose I could glue another piece of glass or a mirror to the opening... but I don't want it to be permanent-permanent, just mostly permanent.  Something that I could take apart if I wanted to.  I shall have to think on this some.  (At this point in time I'll have to say I'm probably a little crazy.)

There was also another little surprise when I was setting things out to be photographed.  There are MORE pansy patterns available!!!  I think I need them all.  Maybe I need to stitch pansies for a month or so and get all caught up with my flowers again.

Hugs and Stitches,
Kay

Crafty-Stitchy Night

This is an evening I look forward to each month.  I started it because I wanted to get together with my friends more often and what better excuse than to be crafty?  We've been meeting back and forth since I sold my condo, and tonight it was my turn to host.  Unfortunately LBH came down with a nasty cold and couldn't make it.  LMS was able to come, and MD couldn't come due to her work schedule.

LMS brought some banana bread (yum) and I set her up to stitching on the Stitchmate.  She's a Q-Snap stitcher and I wanted to see how well the adapter worked.  The answer is the adapter works very well.  And I may have made a Stitchmate covert out of LMS. 

I worked on Christmas ABC's and she worked on a Shepherds Bush stocking for her hubby.  We discussed a little of this and that and hardanger class.  LMS had borrowed a few books with hardanger patterns and before too long we were flipping through the books and a few magazines that I had, while pondering what to do for our Thanksgiving homework.  I rediscovered the hardanger ornament from the Nordic Needle in this years ornament issue of Just Cross Stitch.  I think this will be prefect for my 'masterpiece'.  Now I just need more colors!  More Christmas colors!  LMS found some good ideas for her homework and I can't wait to see what she comes up with.

Of course, since we were gabbing and looking at books, I didn't get much stitching done.  But there is some progress!

I am toying with the idea of stitching Christmas stuff in December.  I have a plethora of things to do since Christmas is one of my design loves.  The other is pansies.  I shall have to give this some more thought, since I'll have to put Flower Power aside for a bit.  I'm a little afraid I won't get back to it if I do put Flower Power aside for Christmas stitching!

Hugs and Stitches,
Kay

Rig Demo day Wednesday

*Warning* Picture intensive post. ... I don't know what got into me.

On Wednesday the marketing department at work hosted an event for all of us desk jockeys to see (up close and personal) a pair of the rigs we use to make money. (Us desk jockeys just cost money.)  On Tuesday morning the rigs were rolled into the parking lot and set up.  It was fun to walk over to the window to see what was going on for a little break here and there. Wednesday we got to wander around, check out the rigs, eat sandwiches, sip hot chocolate, and munch on tasty cookies.  Good times.

This is the smaller of the two rigs they brought in.  It costs roughly 1.4 million dollars and is more of a multi-purpose, starter machine.  It is used for drilling for shallow natural gas, water wells, and some minerals.

Small rig, looking at the drilling tower:

And here is a more side view of the same rig.  I thought I got a picture of it head on, but missed that somehow.

The second rig that was brought in is more of a specialty rig.  It is pretty much used only for water well drilling and costs about 1.5 million dollars.  It can begin with a hole about 48 inches in diameter and steps down from there.  I've forgotten what the stat was for how deep it can drill, but the fellow telling us about it said that a similar rig to this helped with the rescue of the Chilean miners.  This rig is on it's way to Peru after it passes it's final testing.

Big rig from the front.  Those tires are almost as tall as I am!

Here is a look at where the drilling action takes place. I have no idea what any of that 'stuff' is.

Looking up at the tower.  The white line coming from the tower is actually a contrail.  You can see the tower to the smaller rig in the back ground.

Here is a more full picture of the big rig.  The guys in the safety vests are some of the people who were telling us about the rigs.  They didn't extend the tower to full vertical because it was partially set up to be shipped out for it's trials and they didn't want to have to undo and redo that packaging.

This is a picture of the rigs from the fifth floor window by my little cube. 

Hey! I can see my car from here!  Here is a slightly zoomed in view of the big rig (the one on the left in the above picture).

And a bit closer view of the little rig (the one on the right of the picture with the two of them).

I also got some free stuff at the event.  An insulated coffee mug, which I eventually gave to a co-worker who didn't get one.  I figured she'd use it more than I would since I don't drink coffee and have no real need for an insulated mug.  But I have a picture of it to prove that I was at one point in my possession.

I also picked up a beanie/took/skull cap/what-have-you with the BLY spinner on it and a notebook with the rules of safety for operating a rig.  I do love paper products.

And lastly a picture of a girl with a goofy grin standing to the side of the big rig.

Hugs and Rigs!
Kay