Two Finishes

One stitching finish and the floor is finished...

The kids arrived home on Tuesday evening from Disney World. They had a great time with Grandma and Grandpa and all (including G&G) were exhausted.

The Floor project was complete on Tuesday morning and major part of the furniture was moved back in then.


I'm quite happy with the results I got...some spots need some further work but with two active kids and a dog and a cat, I'm sure I'll be "redoing" this floor again before the end of their stay (the kids) in this house...

My other finish is the Alphabet Quaker block from the Stitch Creations blog...



I'm also quite happy with how this came out and have my son finding out his teacher's favorite color and probably going to make one of these into a keychain for her for the end of school.

Off to finish reloading all of the stuff into the dining room, the hutch is still empty, etc...have a wonderful weekend everyone.

I hope to have an update on rosebud wreath and Blackstone Fantasy garden early next week.

No Stitching this week...

Instead of stitching, I decided since the kids were away in Florida with Grandma & Grandpa for the week I should do a project that would be easier to do minus two kids running in and out.

I decided that project should be refinishing our dining room floor. The people who had owned the house before us had slapped down a quick coat of polyurethane to make it look good for selling the house but since it has been peeling and was awful.

The kids left on Tuesday, had a play day with my friend Dee where we went to a restaurant in Rhode Island that we've been trying to get to together for over a year. On Wednesday I started with the massive project I've dubbed THE FLOOR... Wednesday was spent emptying the hutch and packing up the stuff in the room. Whoever knew how much stuff we had in this small room (definitely time to purge after the floor is finished). On Thursday, Dee came over to help me move the table, hutch, etc out of the room. From there I hung plastic sheeting over the doorways (hoping to keep down some of the dust) and headed to the local hardware store that rents different tools. I got myself a floor sander for four hours and sanded as close to the walls as possible within that time.

Now on Friday I'm on my hands and knees with a palm sander and a belt sander getting even closer to the walls.

Now this picture may scare some, so be forewarned...Haha...

This is what I'm looking like after about 4 1/2 hours of sanding and I'm still not done with all the edges...hoping to finish today and put the first coat of polyurethane on tomorrow but we'll see what happens. No matter what happens have to have this project done by Tuesday morning seeing as the kids will be home Tuesday night and Dee has offered to come over on Tuesday to help move the furniture back in the room.

Blast from the past

Just a quick note for today...

I just received this picture from my friend Dee. I did this piece for her many years ago. I've still got the chart for it and I'm very tempted to do it for myself some year!!

The kids got off to Florida with the grandparents after a delay because of fog. My floor project was delayed because I took a Play Day with above mentioned friend Dee and we had a GREAT time playing hookey!! Dee, we need to do that again, maybe you'll get the $696 one next time!!

Stitching Update, partial finish and the airport

I was getting "bored" working on the Rosebud wreath the other day (well not bored but intrigued by another design) so I started a new thing...

It is the latest SAL at Stitch Creations blog...it is a cutie and I thought "what the heck it looks like a quick stitch"...and boy is it...I've only got the first three parts (I'm assuming it will be 5 or 6 parts) and I've got the first three parts complete in two days.

This isn't the best picture (maybe I'll try to get a better one later in the day). I've used DMC 69 for the floss and I'm doing it on 18ct Aida by MCG Textiles that was in my stash. The color of the fabbie is an ecru.

Seeing as this seems to be such a quick stitch I was contemplating doing two more of them and making them into keychains for my ds' teachers for the end of the year.

Now I did get more work done on the rosebud wreath also. I've completed the right side (except for the backstitching) and now working from the bottom of the heart upwards on the left side...This is another kit that is definitely a quick stitch.

Later this morning I'm assuming I'm taking my kids and my inlaws to the airport. They are heading to Florida for Spring Break. Grandma and Grandpa are taking the kids as their Christmas gift and mom & dad were invited to come but were informed we had to pay our own way. We told them to have fun and we'd see them all when they get back.

No dh and I don't have any fabulous plans for while they are gone. In fact, originally I had been planning to clean out and paint ds' bedroom (it still has the pink flowers around the doors and windows that were there when we moved in 10 years ago!!) but now it looks like I may rent a floor sander and tackle the dining room/hallway floors that are in DESPERATE need of attention. Got thinking about it and realized it would be easier to do the floors when the kids weren't around and dh was at work and I only had the dog and cat to contend with during the day.

Off to make sure I've got everything packed for the kiddos and get dh ready for work. Then it's off to my parents' house to let their dogs out (they are away for spring break with my brother's family so I'm babysitting too!!).

Have a fabulous day. I'm going to try!!

More than green or brown

Just a quick update on Rosebud Wreath...I've actually got more colors now than just greens and browns!! I've added some pinks and white!!!

This is probably the only stitching I'll get done today. My son doesn't have school today and he heard on the weather report this morning that it is to be "breezy" today and he's dying to try out the Spiderman kite the Easter Bunny left for him. I told him, if he helped me with some things around here this morning we'd head off to a local field to try and fly his kite.

Also have to pick daughter up for an orthodontist appointment this afternoon so have to get things done quick so we can go fly kites...

Enjoy your day where ever you may be...as Tiger from Winnie the Pooh says "ta-ta for now!!"

Happy Easter, A finish and a Start...

Happy Easter to those that celebrate!! My family will be getting together with the others from the family later today for a late lunch/ early dinner. So far this morning, my kids have attacked their baskets left by the Bunny and found all the eggs they dyed last night which the "Bunny" hid before leaving their baskets.



Here the kids are dyeing their eggs last night.

This "quiet" morning has meant some stitching time for me this morning and with this being a holiday weekend meant we weren't running around all day with the kids so I was able to get in a fairly good chunk of time stitching yesterday also.



All this time meant I was able to finish "Footprints" and start another quick (at least I hope quick) project to also donate to my son's school's auction at the end of May.



It is a kit by Donna Dewberry called Rosebud Wreath. I made this design for my dh's grandmother a few years ago and it is the kit that I was searching for to originally do for the auction before I found "Footprints".



I started this last night and have worked on it for a short period this morning. This is the progress I've made so far on this project. It does seem to be working up quickly so far but I'm getting tired of greens and browns already...can't wait to get to some of the pinks and purples.

Seeing as I've been working on these two "quick" kits I haven't done a single stitch in Blackstone Fantasy Garden, although it is still traveling in my canvas bag, just in case I get bored working on these quickies and need something different to do for a stitch or two. I'm hoping to maybe have the wreath done this week or early next week and then get back to BFG. I have read on some other blogs that people feel they move quicker on their BAPs after working on a "little" project that was quickly finished. We'll see if that happens with my stitching.

Till next time...thanks for looking at my progress on my projects and following my crazy family...

Progress after one Week

It's a little wrinkled (UNDERSTATEMENT!!!) but here is my progress after the first week of stitching on this kit.


I'm very excited at how quickly it is coming together, especially seeing as it has been a VERY hectic week around here.

I got some good stitching time in last Thursday and after that we've been very busy working to get a referendum passed here in our town to renovate our local high school. The vote was on Tuesday (I did absolutely ZERO stitching on the vote day!!) and we were lucky after doing so much hard work that the referendum passed.

There was a group of moms that "camped" at the end our the highway entrance ramp down the street from my house this morning waving signs thanking the voters for supporting the kids. Here is a picture of them...


My daughter is the one on the far left in the red and black jacket with the "THANK YOU" sign...

New Project

I decided there is no way I'm giving my Blackstone away for the auction at my son's school (even though I've had at least two parents suggest I do so). I did decide to do a cross stitch project or two though.

Yesterday I went out very early in the day (as soon as the store opened) and went through the racks at Joann's ETC to see what they had which would be nice but also a quick stitch. I already had in mind that I'd like to do the Donna Dewberry "Rosebud Wreath". I've done this in the past and I'm kicking myself because I couldn't find the pattern in my "STUFF".

When I was at Joann's I did find a kit by Jiffy. It is Footprints, thought this would be a very appropriate design for a Catholic school.

I'm including a photo of the front of the kit (it isn't the best).




Here is my progress for yesterday.



I prepared the material, threads, etc while the photocopier was running at my daughter's school (I volunteer doing copying for the teachers of her grade so they don't have to spend that time away from the kids). Then while I was overseeing "rest time" at my son's school, I started stitching. I then stitched while he was at gymnastics and then after dinner. I'm amazed at how quickly this is coming together.

Hopefully, this will continue to be a quick stitch and the old brain will start firing on all the right cylinders and remember where that other pattern is. If it all works out maybe I'll have two pieces for the auction at the end of May.

Cars, stitching and TGIF...

Today I got to spend the better part of the day sitting at the car repair shop getting the van looked at and fixed. Yesterday the "check engine" light went on and that's NEVER a good thing I've found in this van. The first time it happened it was the EGR valve (of course went in at least twice for this before the complete fix was found!!). After that when it came on it was time for a new transmission (thankfully it was still just barely under warranty so no cost just headaches getting it done that time.) Today come to find out it was time for a new catalytic converter.

I've been finding if you leave it for them to work on when they get to it, you are looking at not getting it back until the evening. With me sitting there I got it back before noon today. I went in at 8:30 (after having to get it jumped seeing as the lights got left on last night and the battery was DOA this morning- just to add fun to the day!!) and was out three hours later...

So I had plenty of time to work on stitching.



I worked on a 15 sided biscornu I started the other day. It is a free design from Solaria which I've slightly modified. It was supposed to have tulips in the center of each section but the material I chose (which was a scrap in my stash) was too small and the tulips weren't coming out correctly (they looked warped).



I'm planning on doing this in 15 different old DMC variegated and new DMC Variations threads...

I also worked on Blackstone Fantasy Garden for a break from the light green I was using on the biscornu...


I can't believe I'm almost half way done with the black work!!





Here is a close up of the area I'm working on now...

A parent at my son's parochial school saw me working on this out in the parking lot while waiting to pick him up after dismissal one day and she commented on how perfect this would be for the auction in May... I loved the compliment but not sure if I'll do that...I'm loving doing it for myself but not sure if I'd love to do it again for myself after donating the first...

At this point I'm so glad it is Friday and the day is almost over...no more running kids to school (although Saturday's around here are pretty nuts with gymnastics and swimming lessons). It is a beautiful SPRING day out (just a teaser from the sounds of this weekends weather forecast- RAIN), so I'm now going to go outside and see what damage the boy (my son who gets into EVERYTHING) and the dog have been creating...

Spring and Blackstone Updates

It is beginning to look a little like spring outside here...doesn't feel like it (the temp now at 11:30 in the morning with bright sun is only at 30º and the weatherman just said normal temp for today should be about 50º!!) I was out looking around the yard while my daughter was waiting to get on the bus and I found these definite signs of spring...


This first one is of tulips in the front garden just starting to peek through the mulch.


Some daffodils that have survived the road salt through the winter next to the telephone pole by the post box...

And last but in no means least the one that actually got me looking closer for signs of spring...the pretty crocus that I never planted. Not sure if previous owners of our house planted or if a critter left it behind...

Now here's the Blackstone Fantasy Garden update...been working on it when I get a few minutes (while waiting for son to be dismissed from school, in the morning before the kids get up, in the evening after dinner and before my eyes bug out for the night)...I'm amazed at how fast it is coming together


This photo was taken on 3/17 (Happy St Paddy's Day!!)


Now this one was taken this morning and shows the entire project and the following are upclose photos so you can see the detail better.


and I'm definitely liking the addition of the DMC to the Elk Snout- it is definitely helping the ES and not overpowering the other colors (it is in the "tear drop" areas that "point" toward the center square and it will also be used in the center square).







and it is hard to believe I'm almost half way done with the black work!!

Well, until my next entry, get out and enjoy this cold but sunny weather!!

DON'T Join the Inkcircles Yahoo group

I've been a "member" of the inkcircle yahoo group while doing BoInk. I love doing Tracy's designs and will continue to do so but I have now dropped this group. Towards the end of doing the Book of Ink Circles I was reprimanded by a person for "requesting" one of the final installements. I responded to her "reprimand" and was immediately SLAMMED by the moderators for doing so. Come to find out the moderator is friends with the "person" in question. I even received a reply from Tracy, herself, letting me know she wasn't offended in the least for requesting the installment be posted.

I've noticed as of late that it has been taking forever and sometimes days for my posts to show up on the webpage, so I asked one of the moderators if I was on moderation for some reason or had there been problems so everyone was on moderation?

I just received a reply to this email and here is what it said, " You are on moderation because of your recent rudeness on list during the "kerfuffle". Also you don't trim your posts consistently. You will be taken off moderation when ALL the mods review and decide you are sorry for your on list behaviour and remember to trim consistently."

I unsubscribed because of this attitude...I'll continue to do Tracy's designs because I so love them but who needs to be bossed around by a bunch of catty hens that worry themselves over such nonsense?? Not me!!

Now that I've blown off steam, I'm back to doing my data entry so I can get back to working on my Blackstone Fantasy Garden!!

Night everyone!!

All Opinions Welcome and Appreciated

I've been playing with different colors tonight trying to figure out what to do with my Elk Snout dilemma on Blackstone Fantasy Garden...

At first I tried adding the coffee that is used in the borders of the knots but that was TOO much and completely obliterated any sign of the Elk Snout.

I then pulled out my handy dandy DMC color card and brought the spreadsheet I have listing my stash of floss up on the computer and I sat there and pondered my next move.

I tried #632 that I had just used in BoInk but it too was too dark and obliterated the ES (Elk Snout). I then pulled #'s 869, 610, 611 and 167. #167 seems to be very close to ES, so I veto that one. I then tried the #611.

This is plain Elk Snout


This is Elk Snout with #611 added to it

I think this works.

As usual I'd love to have some comments and suggestions as to what you think...

Thanks to Suzie she gave me some comments on my post earlier today which got me thinking along these lines...

By the way here is an update of how all the black work is looking so far...

Elk Snout- Needs Help

Today I started the "loop" section of blackwork with the Elk Snout from Carrie's Threads that was recommended for Blackstone Fantasy Garden and it just disappears into the fabric. When I did the floss toss after getting the threads from my LNS they all worked well but I guess the Elk Snout worked as long as it was a large bunch but with the single thread it is just blending into the tone of the fabric.


I'm looking for ideas of what to either a) switch the Elk Snout with or b) what to blend with it to make it stand out more...

Spoke too soon!!

Well so much for spring being here...



This morning dawned gray and cool with rain. As the day has progressed the rain has changed to sleet and now snow (all within about an hour's time period).

Not sure if you can see it in this picture but the snow is coming down like crazy. I've already had one mom call to see if our Girl Scout meeting this afternoon is on or not...it is as far as I'm concerned...

I've also got a little update on BFG. The blackwork is coming along quite quickly...

Until the next time, happy stitching!!

Spring has Sprung in CT?!?!?!

This photo shows what it looked like out our front window after last Monday's storm.

And here are my kids this morning!!



They are crazy but they are mine!!



Facial anyone???




Yes, they went out with boots on!! I blame this on my dh's family, none of them like wearing shoes either!! LOL


Yesterday the temperature hit about 65º and today at 11:40am(EDST) it is already 67º. Of course the weathermen are saying we are supposed to be cloudy and only get as warm as 57º and I just told you what my thermometer is reading and it is BRIGHT and SUNNY!!!

My children are loving this weather, can you tell...

I also have a stitching update for this blog!! I have finished filling in the knots on Blackstone Fantasy Garden and started doing the "black work"...I'm not doing it as proper black work in that I was trying but got so totally lost and confused and it looked so horrible that I pulled it out and I'm doing it now as backstitching...


I'm loving the way it is coming out and am so excited about this piece...I even showed it to my sil who isn't crafty at all (and I mean she doesn't even OWN a needle- she gives me all of her clothes to be mended- hemmed, buttons, etc- because she can't handle it!!) and she loves it and was even hinting that it would be a lovely house warming gift (she and her dh are looking to buy a house)...

And here is a little bit of the blackwork I've done so far...



Thanks for looking and see you soon...

So Close, Yet So Far!!

I've almost (ALMOST) completed the insides of the knots on Blackstone Fantasy Garden.



I have probably two to three more strands of floss to complete the final green knot.



I get to work on this primarily in the morning while having some coffee and before the kids get up, in the afternoon while I'm waiting for my son to get out of school and occasionally in the evening if the eyes are cooperating. I also get to work on it while my son is at swimming lessons and at gymnastics.

If I'm lucky I'll get the knots finished either tonight or tomorrow while son is swimming and then I get to work on the black work!! I can't wait for that and as I've promised myself I wouldn't start that until the cross stitching was done it has been good motivation for myself to keep at it.

Well, speaking of my son, it is time to run to school to get him...

Have a great weekend everyone and happy stitching!!

Framed and hung!!

Sorry for the glare on this one...that is the one problem with glass...



Well, BoInk is truly complete as of 8:30 this morning!! I was able to find a frame at AC Moore that was a perfect match for the cat corners and it was on SALE to boot!! So other than having to buy a gizmo to put the points in the back to hold the piece in, it only cost me $20 to frame this piece. I had taken it to AC Moore to have it "professionally" framed and even with the 50% off coupon I had it was going to cost well over $200 to frame this with NO MAT... I should see if they need framers at AC Moore or Michaels or JoAnn's ETC because I seem to be framing more and more of my own pieces and think I do a great job (if I do say so myself!! LOL)

I've also been working like crazy on Blackstone Fantasy Garden. I've finished the inner work of the center knot (pinky colored one) and now working on the outer knots (the ones in green/purples). I've still kept to my word of not working on the blackwork until I've completed the cross-stitching knots...





This first one shows the "pink" knot almost complete...



This one is showing the "pink" knot complete and one of the three "green/purple" knots complete...

Thanks for looking...

Pictures of BoInk

Here it is February 25th and I'm posting my pictures of BoInk. If you'd like to see more beautiful examples of this design by Tracy Horner go to www.inkcircles.com She has posted many beautiful versions including mine!!



I will post one more picture of this as soon as I have it framed. I've purchased a frame for it and now I just have to press it and mount it in the frame.



I replace the "20" in the pattern with my initials...

Thanks for watching my progress on this wonderful design...

First Finish of 2009 and BSFG Update

Well I have my first finish of 2009 and I can't show a picture of it!!! Tracy Horner of Ink Circles was kind enough yesterday to offer to those of us that were up to date on BoInk (Book of Ink Circles) to get the final piece early. I took her up on the offer but every offer comes with some restrictions LOL!!!

Tracy asked that if we requested the last piece that we follow a few simple rules...

" If you are caught up AND
you want the last piece early AND
you are willing to not post pictures until Feb 24 AND
you won't get mad if you ask at midnight my time and I don't mail you
anything until the next morning AND
you believe in karma"

So I will abide by her request and not post pictures of it until the 24th. This came out as a beautiful piece and now I just have to frame it up!!

In some ways I also have a finish on Blackstone Fantasy Garden too!! No, I haven't completed the entire piece yet but I have completed the outlines of the knots. The dang frogs FINALLY left me alone so I could complete the outlines in peace.



I've now promised myself to complete the "filling" of the knots before I start doing any of the blackwork in the open areas.

The family and I seem to be finished with whatever the "bug" was we were passing around although my poor ds is still suffering with the cough and has been put on an inhaler for it...hopefully we'll be able to start weening him from that soon though.