Comings and Goings

Here's the thing... Don't get out of the habit of posting to your blog because it's hard to get back into the habit!

I wasn't doing much stitching since I started a new job back in August, so there wasn't much to post about. Then I was laid off from that new job back in the middle of November and then I was able to spend lots of time stitching! I start a new job on Monday so we'll have to see how that impacts the stitching time I have.

During my days of unemployment, my sister and I wandered up to Ikea. She needed a bookcase and I went along for the ride. Well, I found this cute little mirror and we hung it on the wall behind the door. Now I'm able to see all of me before heading out into the world.

And now all of you can see the random stuff I have stacked all over in my room!

Since I didn't have anything to stick around for, L and I headed off to Arizona to see Mom's side of the extended family for Thanksgiving. We had a great, awesome, good time. We spent most of the time being go-fors for Grandma and helped her match up some fabric squares with border triangles. She's working on making a quilt for each of the grandkids. That will be a total of 25 quilts when she is done.

I started on Lavender Pansies by The Silver Lining while we were down in AZ. I'm using the called for flosses and stitching over 2 on 28 count Waterlily linen.

On Thanksgiving Eve, Uncle G was giving away his season tickets to the Suns game. L and I were lucky enough to get them, so away we went. We had a great time! The seats are three rows back from the floor, on the aisle, and right behind the Suns bench. I tell you, there is a world of difference between watching a game on TV and being able to sit right up close to the action. It was a lot of fun. The Suns played well and it was pretty much a blow-out over the Trailblazers. Along with the game tickets are passes to an area where they serve dinner before the game and snacks at half time. L and I ate way too much between the chicken fajita's for dinner and the hot dogs, cookies, and popcorn for snacks.

On Turkey Day itself, everyone who was around gathered at Uncle G's house for the big meal. We ate and ate and ate and talked and talked and talked. It was a lot of fun to get caught up with all the cousins that I don't see very often. My youngest cousin loves to do nails as a hobby so I asked if she'd like to do something to mine. Of course she did and she did a great job of it! A simple french with purple tips and a rhinestone for some bling. I do love some bling.

It's two weeks on, and I've been a bit obsessive about doing up my nails. My cousin showed me an easy way to do a french manicure by yourself, so I've been doing that for the most part, typically with different colors of purple on the tips. But today I'm thinking something more Christmas themed. Green nails with some red glitter or red dots. We'll see how it goes as I'm just making it up as I go along.

No visit to Arizona would be complete for me with out a trip over to The Attic, a very fine cross stitch shop in Mesa. L and I went over on Wednesday afternoon. I poked around for quite a while, while L did a quick tour of the place then went next door to the Goodwill to poke around a bit more. I was still looking at stuff when she came back. I must say that I was very well behaved and didn't go crazy like I could have.

I stuck to two patterns that I had on my list. The blue fabric is for the Santa's Village series that Country Cottage Needleworks is putting out. The red is the I don't need this, but it's so pretty, splurge. I just got a small piece of it and I'm thinking it would do well as a background for some monochromatic ornament designs.

As far as stitching goes, I've been plodding right along with the birth sampler for my neice who is to arrive sometime near the end of January. There are a few more leaves and a baby owl to go before I finish this up. I'm hoping that I'll be done with this, except for the name, date, weight details in a week or two.

I have been working away on Very Scary. I'm getting close to finishing it off. I'm thinking on how to modify the border a bit because I'm not a fan of the saw tooth edge with all the satin stitching. I'll have to think about it as I continue to work on it.

And lastly, I started Santa's Village yesterday afternoon. I really am hoping to get each building done before the next one is released. That probably won't happen as we all know. I'm using the called for flosses on 32 count Haven by Color Scapes and stitching over 2. I think I'll get some more roof and snow done this afternoon.

Hugs and Stitches,
Kay