Weekend Stitching

Here we go.  Weekly wrap of and progress report for what I got done over the weekend. First up is Mr. Wiseman 1.  He's all done and all sparkles. This is my church project and this week a little gal about six years in age watched me intently (she was seated in the pew in front of me).  We kept being hushed by her mom.  But I had to answer the girls questions! Gotta start them out young!

I worked on Red White and Bloom a good chunk of the weekend as well.  I'm making good progress and I like the fabric I chose more and more.  It's definitely not something you'll see done by everyone. (Unless I start a trend, but I seriously doubt that happening.)

A few momentos of Grandma

I got a call from my Aunts last week to come over and pick up a few momentos of Grandma.

In the back are a pair of Lenox vases, a bud vase and a small bouquet vase.  The little glass piece between them is something that LJ brought back from Stockholm for Grandma and I've always liked it, so she let me have it.  LJ also gave the tea cups to Grandma.  The one of the right with the purple flowers is for me, the one on the right with blue flowers is for my sister... But I like it so much she may never get it.  Underneath is all is a table cloth that is about the size for a card table.  The design is cross stitched on. We aren't sure if Grandma did the stitching or if it was done my my Great-Grandma Ora Rose, or the other Great-Grandma Flossie.  The Great-Grandma's were more inclined to make things like this, but it's not inconceivable that Grandma did it one summer when the family was out visiting her mother.

Sometimes I go a little bit crazy...

You see, I'm not normally a big fan of camping.  There's way too much cold and dirt.  I hate the smell of campfire smoke and I hate smelling like campfire.  And lastly, I really hate sleeping on the ground.  Ugh.  I want to be a fan of camping.  I like the idea of being outside and going walking about and seeing what there is to see.  I think I have a little bit of wanderlust in me.

Anyway I've been thinking about buying a tent to keep int he trunk of my car for emergency shelter.  The news about earthquakes and tornadoes and what-not has really got me thinking about getting my emergency preparedness kit all put together again.  If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear, sort of thing going on in my head.  So a couple of days ago I was at the mall looking for some unmentionables and walked past a display of small camper trailers.  I picked up a flyer and kept walking.

Later I got the flyer out and hit the web-site listed there on and read everything and watched all the videos.  This looks like the sort of thing that would work really well as emergency shelter.  And there would be no sleeping on the ground.  After pondering the sizes between the 5-Wide (queen sized sleeping area) and 6-wide (king sized sleeping area).  I decided on the 6-Wide.  Picture time!

5-Wide Teardrop.

6-Wide Teardrop.

Both of these trailers come in under 1000 lbs and can be towed with most cars.  But I decided that I needed a new car to haul my new trailer.  So I think I need one of these to pull my trailer around.  And The Little Guy will customize my trailer to match the paint of my vehicle.  Sweeeeeet!

That guy can haul 1500 lbs so I'm thinking I'm in good shape.  And then I spotted this beauty back on The Little Guy web page. It's a 6-Wide Sport model.

Ah yes. Something to haul around an ATV of some sort.  I do know that I like ATV's and I like zipping up and down trails on them.  This is good.  This is very good.  So off I went looking at what sort of ATV to aquire for my emergency shelter.  I've narrowed it down to two.  The more traditional ATV version.

Or the side by side configuration so I can take along a pal.

What sort of pal?  Why, one of these, of course.

Unfortunately, my weight on the trailer has now exeeded the towing capacity of my tow vehicle.  The sport trailer is 1400 lbs unloaded.  I'm pretty sure the ATV weighs more than 100 lbs (duh) plus any gear that I'm going to need for camping (er, emergency shelter).  I've gotta rethink the tow vehicle.  But I don't want a huge monster of a tow vehicle, the point is to have a smallish car to tow the smallish trailer... I wonder if I can stuff a diesel into the CRV for more torque and towing power.

So there you go.  I've gone crazy.  I figure if I get a trailer that keeps me off the ground and is easy to keep warm I might like camping... And have shelter in case of emergency. (As far as money spent goes... $0.  But that's the best part of dreaming.)

Weekend Stitching

I finished up Love Is by Shepherds Bush over the weekend.  I love it! And it was such a quick stitch for me.  There was just something about this that grabbed me and wouldn't let me put it down until I had finished it.  For now, it goes into my drawer of finished things to finish.

I put a few more stitches into Halloween Rules. Love love love the fabric. (Do I say that every time?) Sassy's Fabbys did a great job with this one!!

And I finally put a few stitches in to Red White and Bloom.  I was a little worried about the fabric before I started, but I think it's going to be a-okay!

Tonight I baked up a couple dozen sugar cookies.  I think I'll put some frosting on them tomorrow.  And then eat them.  All.  Even though I shouldn't.  I'll give you a picture of the finished project.

Stitchery-ditchery-dock!

Yeah, that makes no sense to me either.  I've been going to town on Love Is by SB.  I'm about a quarter of the way done with it.  I like that you can see how the linen has a bit of a mottled feel too it in this photo.

It's just so cute!!

I had a job interview this morning down at the south end of the valley.  On my way back north I decided to stop in at The Craft Center of Fine Stitchery and see if they had the pattern for Red, White, and Bloom.  They did, but reason got the best of me, because I'm waiting for 123 Stitch to send me the copy that I ordered from them.  No need to have two of the same pattern.  Instead I picked up these little goodies (except the scissors).

A little wooden laying tool (something that I've been wanting to try out), a cute chart from Country Cottage Needleworks, and a pink bowl with clear glass flower frog for scissor display. The folks at the CCoFS hunt all over for those glass frogs and match them up with bowls, cups, vases, and what not.  Every time I got in to see what they have, they have been out of them.  I was very surprised to find that this on hadn't been purchased by someone else and taken home.

I just adore it!  I'm thinking on making a little mat to go in the bottom of the bowl so that I don't dull the point of my scissors when I put them in the frog.

I've been having second thoughts over the fabric I chose to do Red, White, and Bloom on.  Here it is with most of the flosses:

So what do you ladies think?  Too dark? Too strange? I thought a gingham would just be charming with that design but now I'm having second thoughts... I don't know... Maybe if it were a bit lighter in colors? I'll consult with the girls when they come over for Stitchy-Crafty night, but I'd like your input as well.

Wee Bit 'o Me v. 46

1) Do you watch the history channel? If so, what’s your favorite program?

Yes. Right now I’ve been watching the series about how the states got their shapes.  Good stuff.

2) What is your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?

Cross Stitch!

3) What does your dream house look like?

I have the floor plan to it in a book.  It’s an English Cottage style of house, but at 3000 sq.ft. I don’t think it actually qualifies as a cottage.

4) What state were you born in?

Utah.

5) Do you have a change jar? If so, what do you use it for when it gets full?

See Photo below:

 It only looks like it all quarters as I emptied it out and sorted everything out, counted it up, and dumped everything back into the jar.  The purpose of that exercise was to put the amount into Quicken to track the additions to the jar. ... It's the accountant in me.

6) What’s the first website you look at when you get on the computer?

I’m sad to admit this, but it’s Facebook.

7) What is your favorite breakfast?

Omelets, French toast, scrambled eggs and hash browns… Anything that requires cooking that I didn’t have to do.

8) What’s the most memorable trip you’ve ever taken?

The month long tour of Europe my sister and best friend took 15 years ago. That was some of the best money I’ve ever spent. A close second is the weeklong cruise my family took a couple of years ago.  Europe + Cruise = Current Dream Vacation.

9) Do you prefer your coffee black or with cream/milk/sugar?

I don’t drink coffee.

10) Have you ever done a professional photo shoot?

Nope.  I’d rather not be in pictures at all, but sometimes it just can’t be helped.

The Heat!!

We are having a wet and rain filled May here in Utah.  It has been raining all morning today and the weather dude indicates that it's supposed to continue to rain tomorrow and Thursday.  Tres Bummer.  It's actually snowing up there in the mountains down to the 6000 ft. level.  Not really what we need since the winter snow pack hasn't had a chance to start melting.  Anyway, that was a bit of a random aside...

I finished up the next block on Crabby All Year, The Heat!!

It kind of looks like the Hat in this picture as I've moved the hoop over to start on the next block, Weeds!

I could no longer stand the temptation and started in on Love Is by Shepherds Bush.  I am using all of the called for flosses and fabrics.  The linen has a really soft age look to it that doesn't really show up in the picture.  And I wiggled a bit when I pressed the button so it's a bit fuzzy.  It's super cute and like most SB patterns will be a pretty quick stitch.

I picked up everything but the pattern for Red, White, and Bloom from 123 Stitch yesterday.  They are speedy quick with orders!  Since the pattern is on back order I'll have to wait a few more days until the pattern is due to come in.  I put in my grid lines on the linen so I'm all ready to go once I get the pattern in my grubby little hands. :)

Weekend Stitching

I'm not very creative with my titles, eh.  Oh well.  The last time you saw Chirstmas Eve Fun, it looked a little like this:

I think that was two weeks ago.  Anyway, as I was plugging away on it this past Saturday, Dad asked if I ever count the number of stitches in a project and how many stitches were in something like this.  I said "A lot because each big square on the graph contains 100 stitches."  After he'd wandered off, I looked at my pattern and did some quick math on how many stitches I had left before I finished the project.  The number was big.  So big that I packed up the project and UFO'ed it for the time being. 

 Truth being told, I wasn't having much fun stitching on it.  And I was working on a lot of brown weeds.  I was tired of brown.  So I decided to start in on Halloween Rules by Lizzie*Kate.  I had all the stuff and it was all kitted up and ready to go!  The bummer... The first color to go on was brown.  A brown of about the same shade that I was previously working on.  But I persevered and made it through to the other colors.

I am stitching this over two on 32 count Wildberries Opalescent linen from Sassy's Fabbys and I love love love love this color.  Very much!

I got some progress done on the last Wiseman.  He's basically down to beads and should be done next week or so.

I found via the 123 Stitch message board that there is a SAL for Red White and Bloom group on facebook.  So I joined, and then ordered the pattern and supplies from 123 Stitch.  It should be ready to go by the end of the week.  123 had to backorder the pattern as it seems to be very popular.  No worries.  I should be able to get a few more squares done on Crabby All Year by then.

"Make today a better day"

Today I went with my Sis-in-law and her mother to a live broadcast of Studio 5.  They usually broadcast live but their studio doesn't have room for a live audience.  Today they set up shop at the Hale Centre Theatre and did their show.  Sis-in-law's mom was the one who scored the tickets to the show and I got to come along with them at the last minute.  When we got to the theater the line to get in pretty much stretched all the way around the building.  Not good.  So I did I sneaky.  I called my Aunt who just happens to work at the Hale, and she let us in by a back door.  Good thing too.  I later found out that they had over invited and not everyone who came was able to get into the theater.  (And no, I don't feel bad about using my connections.) 

The show was a lot of fun, we got a goodie bag with some treats and coupons to local businesses.  And I was on TV for all of a second or two during one of the transitions to or from a commercial, I forget which.  If you want to play "Spot the Kay" you can find a copy of the show Here.  If you don't, I don't be offended.  I don't know how long the link will be active for the show.

After the show, I headed into a placement interview with a temp agency.  Hopefully something will come of that.  After the temp agency, I headed to the weekly appointment with Mr. Trainer-Dude.

The side story is I rushed out of the house to get to the show so quickly that I didn't have time to eat breakfast.  Luckily there was a Snickers in my goodie bag, so that was lunch at Noon-Thirty.  Before the gym, I managed to get a chocolate milk pint at a convenience store and ate some cake bites (think cake truffle), also out of my goodie bag.  I really should have eaten more than that before going to the gym, but that was all I was able to find that didn't look too greasy or heavy or what-not.  I was glad to get to Mom and Dad's house and find pizza for dinner.  Yay! Real food!

My house went on the market today.  If I wasn't afraid of freaks and weirdos I'd link up to the listing and pictures to show off how beautiful my house is.  But... the listing has my address on it and... freaks and weirdos.

Wee Bit 'o Me v. 45

1) What profession have you always admired?

Probably a little different take on this, but it’s those people with an entrepreneurial spirit.  Those people who have an idea, and know how to get it into production.

2) What would the title of your memoir/biography be if it was written today?

Oh gee… hmm… uh… The indecisive? Or… It’s okay to not be a crazy success.

3) How far do you commute to work?

Being unemployed, 0 miles.

4) Are your earlobes attached or detached?

I think they’re attached if I understand the definions correctly.

5) Do you eat the unpopped kernels of popcorn at the bottom of the bag?

Nope.  Icky.

6) What is the strangest gift you’ve ever received?

Haha… for my 21st birthday, my little brother wrapped a beer in ice and gave it to me. Unfortunately, it was already melting and soaking wet when I got it!

7) What is one tv show that you wish hadn’t been cancelled?

Not being a TV person, there really isn’t one. (Funny how the same questions come up on different questionnaire groups.)

8) What is something that you are saving money for right now?

Ha ha. What money? I was saving up for a cruise before I was laid off, does that count?

9) What hobby would you like to take up?

Quilting. I try it from time to time, but I can’t cut a straight line for the life of me, even with the rotary cutter and ruler and all that.

10) How many times a year do you get really dressed up?

What counts as really dressed up? If we’re talking formal, then never. If it’s more like going to church, then once a week I get dressed up.

Bugs!!

I finished up the block for June, Bugs.  Yay!  And I've made good headway on the block for July, The Heat.  I'm really pleased with the way this is turning out.  The funny thing is that I've made some sort of mistake in each of the blocks.  But I'm not going to tell where they are.  You'll have to figure that out for yourself. ;)

Today, one of my BFF's came over and helped me give the kitchen and living room a good scrubbing. I have the dry hands to prove it.  When we got done we decided to run up to Shepherds Bush in Ogden to have a look around.  I thought I would pick up Red, White and Bloom and aim for getting it done before the Fourth of July.  Big frowny because they had sold out of the pattern and the new shipment would be in tomorrow.  Oh well, I'll just have to look for it the next time I wandered up there.  I did find a little pattern to stitch up.  Here it is:

You'll have to click on it to see it better. The pattern is Love is by Shepherds Bush. The flosses are to the top and bottom, linen to the left, and the buttons are kind of getting lost there in the middle. The little flower thingy is something that was tied up with the pattern.  Maybe I'll tie it around my pony and be a girly girl today.  Oh, the phrase at the bottom is: Love is where you plant it.  So cute, so springy.  I'm ready to start in on it right now!

Wee Bit 'o Me v. 44

1) When was the last time you used a pay phone (if ever)?

I think it was 12 or so years ago.  My car died on the freeway (but I got her off to the shoulder) and I walked over to a Carl’s Jr. to call Dad to come rescue me.

2) Did you ever fail a subject in school?

Not in High School or lower.  Chemistry, Physics, and Calculus gave me fits in College.  Some I took multiple times until I passed the class.  Chemistry I finally had to give up on. (Thus ending my dream of becoming a Geologist.)

3) Where do you go to get your favorite hamburger/cheeseburger?

There’s a local joint near my parents house, Burgers Supreme.  I love the Western style burger, and they have fry sauce!

4) Have you ever served jury duty?

I never have.  I haven’t ever been called to jury duty either. (Knocks on wood.)

5) How old were you when you moved out of your parents’ house?

Uh… the last time was 5 years ago when I bought this house.  But I’m moving back in since I’m trying to sell this house.  They are never getting rid of me.

6) What is your favorite color to wear?

Purple in all it’s shades!

7) Do you have a pair of shoes that you wear all the time?

Yeah.  I brown pair of Sketchers low profile sneakers.

8) Do you enjoy talk radio?

Not really.  I’ll listen to one of the talk stations during commute because they give traffic and weather updated every 10 minutes.

9) If you could turn one unhealthy food into a healthy one, what food would it be?

Cookies! I love cookies, and eat way too many of them.

10) Who is the best speaker you’ve ever heard in person?

I quite enjoyed Brad Wilcox when he came and did a fireside at my church several years ago. Going to hear someone speak is not really something I do.