Sometimes I go crazy... a little bit...

So you guys know that sometimes I go a little bit crazy.  Well, it happened again this week.  I got a bee in my bonnet and decided to stitch up all the L*K yearly Santa's that I've been collecting, a long with a few other L*K's that I have in my stash.  I got to feeling a little bit guilty about not stitching up some of those patterns that have been gifts to me from my siblings over the years.  (Darned flash!)

I have fabric that I want to put these on, I just didn't have all of the flosses.  So... instead of choosing a pattern to start and purchasing the flosses for that chart, I compiled a list of all the flosses used in all the patterns.  I mean, why would you want to limit yourself?  I did consult my collection of floss stash, and edited down on how many skeins I really felt I needed to stitch any and all of these patterns.

And 65 flosses later, and one happy LNS owner, the above is a mess of what I brought home.  I really need to be less crazy.  It's way cheaper.

Hugs and Stitches
Kay

One last though... On my list of things to get was a set of flosses to go with my extra Tiny Tidings XV pattern.  I had the list with me when I went to the shop.  I wrote it out carefully on a slip of paper and put it in my purse.  Well... that list was separate from my other list and I completely forgot to take it out and buy those flosses!!  Ack!!  I guess the give away will have to wait a bit longer. At least until I can get my act together!

Kay the forgetful

Giveaway received, Giveaway starting

A few weeks ago I won a give away by Jennifer of Confessions of a Serial Starter.  I can't tell you how surprised I was to win.  Today, her package arrived and I was again surprised.  Here's what she sent over:

First, on the way of discovery was Mr. Sheepie. He makes me laugh.  I have just the place for him on my bookshelves where he'll be kept company with Mr. Rino and Mr. Lion.  He's really quite cute.

The next thing I discovered are the two little pin cushions.  Aren't they pretty and fun?  Here by my desk I have a few shelves on the wall filled with pin cushions and scissor frogs.  I think they are going to find a home on those shelves.

Also finding a home on the shelves by my desk is the glass scissor frog Jennifer sent me.  This is a great addition to my budding collection.  I don't have another one like it and the holes are different sizes.  I think a pen or highlighter or some such would go great in the large center hole, and then scissors all around.  ... I may have to develop a scissor habbit here in a few.

And tucked away in the bottom of my box was a package of Silkweaver Solo in a 28 ct. Cashel Linen with a few skeins of Belle Soie silks.  Oh. My. Drool.  I usually don't buy silks because of the cost, and these are such pretty colors.  They are Peaches 'n Cream, Puritan Blue, and Icing.  I'll have to find a special project for them... or I can just keep them in my stash and pull them out on occasion and bush them up against my cheek.

As for the Silkweaver Solo, I wish I knew the name of the color.  It is just begging for a Halloween design to be stitched on it.  Isn't it beautiful?  The variation of colors...  I think if I'm careful I might get two projects out of it.  Knowing the problems people have had with the new company that bought Silkweaver, this is really a treasure.

Thank you so much, Jennifer, for you wonderful giveaway!  I wish my pictures did better justice to the prizes.

So that's the Giveaway received.  As for the Giveaway starting, I've decided to give away my second copy of Lizzie*Kate's Tiny Tiding XV, with a cut of fabric from my stash to stitch it on, and maybe a few flosses to stitch it up with.  Won't that be fun?  I'd like to say that I'll post the official entry page tomorrow, but I know how time gets away from me, so it will be soon... I hope...

Hugs and Stitches,
Kay

Some stash, some stitching

Yesterday I got to spend the evening with a good friend from college.  She now lives back east and was out here visiting friends and family.  On my way to meet with her, I had to stop in at the Craft Center.  I bought some fabric for Rosewood Manors "Inspiration", and a handful of Lizzie*Kate charts (I think I'm addicted.), and a small pair of scissors that had a purple handle.  There was no way I could turn down purple scissors!  Here's the haul (along with the flosses for Inspiration that I picked up last weekend when JoAnn was having a floss sale).

When I was putting my charts away, I discovered that I'd already purchased the Tiny Tidings chart!  That must mean it's time to make a list of what I have and start carrying it with me.  It'd be nice if there was 'an app for that'.  So... if anyone is in need of a brand spanking new Tiny Tidings XV I'd like to sell it to you for what I paid for it ($8), with free shipping to the US!

Since I was posing, I took a picture of Bless Our House.  It was a stressful week at work and I didn't get to stitch at lunch as much as I usually do.  I expect to be done with the roof top next week, barring any disasters.

Reading the thread about floor stands on the 123 Stitch message board has led me to the Stitch Mate.  It looks like a really nice stand.  From what I can see in the base, it's sturdy.  I wonder if they can make it a little bit taller for me.  The FAQ states that the clamp height is adjustable up to 30 inches.  So I got out a tape measure and sat in all the chairs I stitch in and came to the conclusion that 30 inches is too low.  I'd be hunched over the fabric like Quasimodo.  I think I need a clamp height of about 38 to 40 inches.  I suppose I could e-mail them and ask.  I also wonder if it's reversible, if it can be used on the left side of the chair and the right side of the chair.  All the pictures show it on the same side of the chair. ... I know, I know, e-mail and ask them.  I'm just typing aloud to myself is all.

The weekend is here! Yay!  More putting away stuff from the move, and not nearly enough stitching.  I miss being unemployed for the unlimited hours to stitch that I had.  I wish I knew how to make a living wage by cross stitching. But enough ho-humming.  I'm going to get that pile of leaves done on Crabby All Year.  Then I can move onto a new block!

Hugs and Stitches,
Kay

L*K Monday Stitch-a-long

Here's my progress from Monday.  I'm almost through with the word "Stitcher" and might be able to eek out the rest of it next Monday.  That would be excellent.  I've been thinking of taking this one to work with me on Mondays to work on during lunch instead of Bless Our House.  I have a whole herd of little L*K's that need to be stitched up.  This might work since I don't think to do the small stuff when I've got big stuff in the hoops.

I read with interest the comments on the 123 Stitch message borad the other day on a thread about Floor Stands.  I've been thinking on and off about getting one for my big projects.  I want something wooden, easy to flip over to the back side, a high stitch height (I work with the fabric about 6 inches from my nose), and easy to change between projects.  I've seen a few that I like, but haven't seen one that fits the easy to change between projects idea.  I'll have to think on it some more.

Hugs and Stitches,
Kay

A stitch here, a stitch there...

It seems like I'm never going to get to the end of this pile of leaves!!!  I worked on it all week long, here and there where ever I could grab a few minutes.  And I've still got lots of leaves to go.  I wish I liked stitching with brown more than I do... but I don't...  Maybe I'll make the rest of the pile of leaves purple.  I love purple.

The landscapers and roofers have shown up at the house.  After having a few plants smashed by flying shingles, the landscapers have deferred to the roofers.  Landscaping will go in once the roof is finished.

And it started to snow on the Wisemen on their journey. Hopefully it won't turn into a full blown blizzard!

I understand that people are receiving their copies of Just Cross Stitch with the Halloween ornaments.  I sure hope my copy is forwarded okay.  I tend to receive mine at the end of the mailiing, and with forwarding it will be further behind... I'll have to start stalking the magazine rack over at Barnes & Noble just in case and if I end up with two copies, that's okay.

It's Monday, so I'm going to go put a few stitches into Cross Stitcher in Residence.

Hugs and Stitches,
Kar

L*K Monday Stitch-a-long

I know I'm a day late, but let's face it, I'm usually running a day behind. ... Case in point, I came home form work thinking I'd sign up for the Elsue Ornament Exchange over on the 123 Stitch message board, and the first post I read stated that it had been closed.  Well bummer. 

On the other hand, I tend to be 'that person' in exchanges... you know, that gal who faithfully fulfills her obligations only to receive nothing in return.  It's not just in cross stitch exchanges, but goes all the way back to secret santa, secret sister, or secret friend activities waaaay back to junior high and elementary school. ... I want all my cool stuff back!!!

Any how... I put aside some time and stitched to my hearts content on Cross Stitcher in Residence.  Just a few more words to go and I'm done.

I love the fabric.  I need to figure out where to acquire some more.  If I had placed this a little more carefully, I could have got another pattern on the fabric.  But I'm spatially challenged.  This is why I don't design.

I'm having a good time reading the daily e-mail from Attic Needlework in Mesa.  They've been doing a 12 days of Christmas in July/August.  Today was day 8 and they had a deal I couldn't pass up.  We'll see if I got my order to them in time!  No use claiming a stash acquisition when you're not sure if you got your order in in time or not.

Hugs and Stitches,
Kay

A stitching update!

The little projects saw some good time put in this week.  There was lots of here, there, and in between time that I filled.  A fellow I know calls me industrious because I stitch when ever there is some down time.  I see it more of a "there's never enough time to do what I love, so I've gotta do it when I can" sort of thing.  Anyway, the run down for this week.

I have a finish!  I finished the last bits on Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus this morning at church.  So sparkly! So lovely!  Needs ironing! Now I just need to decide how to finish off the whole set of figurines... (It is stitched straight, I just can't get the camera lined up square.)

I knew that I stood a good chance of finishing this off before the end of the meeting, and I didn't have time to get my next church piece all put together, so I took along Cross Stitcher in Residence.  It was all gathered up and easy to put in my church bag.  I got a good chunk done on it too.  I expect a finish sooner than later.  I already know how I want this to be finish-finished up.

When I got home, I put away the flosses and what not from the Nativity set, and got out the next church project and put it away.  I'd put some time into it before hand when I was just visiting my Grandma S. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  It is the Heirloom Nativity Sampler by The Victoria Sampler.  I even ordered all of the silk flosses way-back-when to stitch it with.  I must not be a very discerning stitcher because I can't really tell the difference between silks and cotton.  I'm sure that's akin to blaspheme to some, but it's true.  On the other hand, I don't have much trouble with DMC, GAST, WDW, or CC flosses tangling like some ladies seem to have.  Anyway... enough rambling on that front.  Here is the 'start' picture for the HNS.

Bless Our House went along quite well, as well.  I feel like I got tons done on it.  I guess it's the big block of blue where I don't have to do a lot of serious counting or looking at the pattern all time time.  I've almost got the body of the house on.  Yay!  I'm no where near done with this one, and I'm already planning on what is going to be my next 'at work' project.

And last on the list of updates is Crabby All Year.  Some how I managed to sneak in some time on it.  I got the garbage bag all done, and that big branch too.  Now it's on to lots and lots of brown for a pile of leaves.  I wish I liked stitching with brown more.  But I don't.  This might be a 'put up with it' fest for the next little while.  Looking at this, I can't believe I'm almost done with it.  Three more months to go, then put the buttons and finishing details on it, and Done!

I stand a good chance of getting it done for Mom for Christmas.  I've already got next years Mom project picked out.  Inspiration by Rosewood Manor.  I think I'm going to take a bit of a break on the big projects for Mom after that. ... Or maybe not.  We'll see if anything strikes her fancy.  She's a quilter, and I'm the stitcher so we trade.  She makes quilts for me, I make cross stitch things for her.  It works out well.

Hugs and Stitches,
Kay