A Finish,Some Stash and I Should be Shot!

Happy Sunday everyone! Hope that everyone is having a great weekend! It's hotter than heck here in Michigan (about time is all I can say), so I figured I'd save myself some sweat and delay housework until another time (I can always find an excuse to put off housework!).

This week I finished up Queen Bee by Shepherd's Bush. I love these projects because they're fun to stitch with all the different stitches and you can have a finish in pretty short order:

Just in time to use all those 60% off Joanne's coupons I've saved up. DH is going to divorce me for sure with this framing. He looked at me with raised eyebrows when he saw last month's framing expenditure. All I can say is - HE'LL GET OVER IT!!! LOL

Last Sunday was my son's 16th Birthday. It's so amazing how quickly these kids grow up.

Here he is, but don't tell. He doesn't want me putting pictures of him on my blog. He thinks it's lame. He's reading a long note that my DH and I wrote to him about how proud we were of him. I think he thought that this note was lame too - you know how kids are at that age. But we are very proud of him - he's a hardworking kid, gets great grades, volunteers and mentors. We spent the day at Race Rochester - an indoor race car place - it was hotter than the dickens in those helmets, but he had a great time. Then his favorite dinner and cake and he was all set. What did he ask for? Well, an IPod Touch, of course. His older one broke and he was using mine. I'm glad to have mine back now - especially because of some of the songs he downloaded on it - I like rock and roll, but.............

DH has a tradition that on my kid's birthdays, I get flowers to re-celebrate their birth and to thank me for giving him his children (I guess he had a little bit to do with that, but why remind him - LOL). He can be a sweetie sometimes:

The week has been busy as usual. Three weeks and the kids are back to school so I'm sure that everyone is familiar with the drill. We've gone to see a couple of movies this week. DD and I went to see Julie/Julia. I had read the book and enjoyed it, but I didn't really enjoy the movie. I was expecting there to be more of the cooking mishaps and maybe that really gross scene near the end with the maggots (not that I enjoy seeing maggots), but most was left out. There was really more about Julia Child in this one, than Julie doing the cooking. I was disappointed.

We also saw Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. It was good - long - but good. Now I haven't read past Book 4 (I used to read them to my son when he was real little before he could read them), so I really didn't know the whats and wherefores after that point, but it was still good. Oh, and while I'm on the subject of entertainment, I finished up a book this week that I really enjoyed. It was called "The Little Book" by Selden Edwards. It dealt with time travel to 1897 Vienna and three generations of a family. I really enjoyed it.

I managed to accumulate some stash the past week or so. I think I get like this every year when I really want to just tend to what I want to - stitch, etc., - but it's more for spending time with the kids. I really should be shot is all I can say. I finished QB and I'm almost finished with Cape Cod Girls so my demented brain tells me that it's time for more stash. I am seriously ill! LOL

Anyway, not that I want to blame anyone for my purchasing of below mentioned stash items, but.......I have been somewhat enabled.

I have been watching Sandra's progress on the Betsy Davis sampler and have been enthralled with her progress and beautiful stitching, so I broke down and had to order the chart. Sandra and I have has some email discussions about these beautiful samplers and at one point she had mentioned a very similar one called An American Sampler which was published years ago in an issue of Treasurers in Needlework. Well, she sent me a picture of it so I knew what it looked like, but this weekend there was an estate sale in our neighborhood (no, the economic situation has not gotten better around here even though I'm hoping my stash purchases will help things out somewhat - LOL). Anyway I zipped through the house and the woman must have been a crafty type of person. I saw a whole box of craft magazines and what do I find:

An American Sampler published in 1993. So now I'm happy as a clam. But it's going to be hard to decide which one to stitch first.

Then because you can't just order one chart from the Scarlett Letter and I wanted to keep Betsy company in the envelope, I had to order two more:

I've been watching the progress of Margaret and Tanya working on Rebecca Robinson and just had to have it. The Flame Stitch sampler is one that I've had my eye on for a while because of the bright colors in it. These purchases were partly because I wanted to start working on Suzanne Lane 1776.

Why did Suzanna make me buy more you ask? Well, she's been in my stash for ages, and seeing how I haven't really worked on a traditional sampler for a while I thought I'd start this one. But pulling her out made me just want to take a glance at the Scarlett Letter site and I started nosing around. Bad move - I remembered Rebecca and the Flame Stitch sampler and it was all over. I just must have been in that kind of mood. Anyway, I wanted to start Suzanna, but alas, no fabric that fit it. Did have the called for fabric but an inch too small all the way around. So, what does one do???? Get fabric, of course, which was not a good thing. Like I said I should be shot.

I tore out of here first thing yesterday morning before everyone woke up for the 50 minute hike to my not so local LNS. Now mind you, I just needed fabric. Well, I got fabric, but between us girls (and any men that might read this and enjoy stitching), just getting fabric - well that just IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!!!! Look what jumped into my hands and screamed, BUY ME!!

Just because these represent two of my three favorite things. Plus I like having some small projects.

The Riddle - I have seen this popping up on blogs and love the colors in it, so had to have this one.

Then Sailor Collar by Shepherd's Bush. Now there is a reason I got this one (well, I talked myself into having a reason to buy this). I wish that I could be SAL stitching Sail Away with all the other girls, but I already did it. When I saw this on the wall of my LNS, I decided this could be my piece. I won't post on their blog, but I'll have a nautical theme thing going too. (Note: I am an honorary member of the Sail Away SAL - thanks Glenna!). But there was another reason. Last Spring, our Sampler Guild had an auction and I bought the companion piece, Cranberry Pinafore, for $10.00. Now I can have both of them stitched and hang them together. I think that's a good reason for buying this, don't you? Of course, you do! LOL

Then I get an email this week from Colonial Crafts posting their latest things. I'm surprised the subject line in the email wasn't, "Dear Sucker - Do We Have Some Things For You".

I love these fabrics. Now I haven't quilted much in a while, but the line of this fabric just jumped out at me. If I remember right it's called the Williamsburg Sampler line. I'm going to get a couple more pieces of it. I'm not into collecting whole lines necessarily when I do a quilt, but I thought these two pieces from the line would be great for backing pillows, pinkeeps, etc. Love it!!!

I think that I have done enough damage this week. What I want to do now is come up with a 25 project list. My friend Di and I were talking about this and the fact that we have WIPs all over the place and just keep adding. It's time for action. So the two of us are going to put together a list of 25 projects that we want to do and get them done. I'm doing it because I have so many WIPs going (some from 20 years ago that I still love), that it's becoming lunacy. So my project for this week is digging everything out and making a list and figuring out the rules. Maybe if I publicly embarrass myself before all of you, I'll get some of this stuff done (like all three of the HoHRH pieces).

Well, that's about it for now. I should get some cleaning done even though it is so hot. Maybe I'll just go play with stash! LOL Oh, one more thing. I don't know about anyone else, but I've had a horrible time with Blogger this week. I would try to make a comment on someone's blog and I would get error messages. It would clear up for awhile and then start again. Then it threw some of the blogs I really like to follow down to the bottom and wasn't bringing them up when new posts were made. So, if I haven't made a comment, I'm definitely not ignoring you! I obviously don't need to be enabled anymore (at least for a month) by all your wonderful stitching, but I love reading and seeing everyone's projects. Have a wonderful week!!! And thanks again for all your comments.

Where Did the Week Go

Well, I don't know about everyone else, but it seems that since school has ended, one day has run into the next and before you know it a whole week has gone by! Of course, it doesn't help that besides the kids I also had DH home for the week. Makes for not getting too much done. DH is worse than the kids - I'm sure we can all relate!! LOL Anyway, both the kids are in summer programs, but the minute they get out - MOM!!! Can you take me to the mall, Blockbusters, I want to work out, I need a dress for my part in Summer Theater - oh yeah, shoes too and a leotard (not all at the same store, of course), two sets of dance auditions for next year, softball.....and I probably forgot a few things in there! It's taken me two days to do wash! OY! All I've done is run my butt off. I'd rather have stitch butt!

A week ago, the Guild I belong to (Kindred Spirits Sampler Guild) had their monthly meeting and Terri, Julie and I were the hostesses. Terri posted pictures, but I thought I'd post a couple just because I thought our table and goodies were so nice.

These miniature cheesecakes were one of my contributions. My local produce market sold the edible flowers and since Julie came up with a floral theme, I thought they fit right in.

All the food was wonderful and Terri has posted her Praline Brownie recipe on her blog. I think I grabbed one of those before we were even ready to start eating just because I had to have one (and don't tell - I think I took the biggest one - they were so good!!!!).

I'm looking forward to our next class through the Guild. Catherine Jordan is coming to teach the Great Lakes map:

I can hardly wait to get my hands on this one and start it. I think our Guild will be the first to be taught this project. Of course, where I'm going to fit it in to stitch is another matter. It should be an interesting class because all the water on this piece is painted in. It should certainly turn into a great learning experience.

Even though everyone was home and I've been running my butt off, I did manage to get some stitching in. I started Queen Bee by Shepherd's Bush (love the sparklies in her wings). I've had this kit in the stash pile for a while, and after the A&E sampler (now at the framers - Happy Dance), I wanted to do something with soft colors and with a little more interest to the stitches.

I got past the 1/2 way point in just a few days. The last picture didn't come out very well, but shows my progress. It's been a lot of fun. I used a different lettering that I found in a webshots album (http://good-times.webshots.com/album/562287066fVItwN). These can be downloaded and used if you like them. I prefer this type of lettering over what SB has been using - that wonky high/low, wide/narrow lettering. I really would have liked to finish it but I felt the end of June looming in the horizon and decided to sail back over to Shores. I haven't done enough on Shores to snap a picture though.

I was surprised to learn this week that I won a giveway on Karen's blog. I haven't won anything in my life except for a Funny Face Drinkstand (does anyone remember Funny Face - it was like Koolaid - actually probably was Koolaid under an alias). I entered a coloring contest and won a drink stand. It was profitable until one day, my brother, in his role as Kamakazi Bikerider Brother, decided to end the business of the drinkstand by barreling down the sidewalk at warp speed and crashing into it. It was only made out of heavy-duty cardboard, so it didn't take much to end the summer refreshment stand business. To this day, I can still see the glee in his eyes as he came barreling down the sidewalk and us girls running and screaming like crazy fools. Oh brothers, what would we do without them?

Anyway, I won the Friendship chart by Brightneedle. Ya Hoo! I was tickled. Then I just needed a stash fix of some little things (I really should be shot) and picked up Ark and Girl in the Red Dress. I would really like to have her, Marion the Librarian and Miss Mary Mack (and I think there is one other one - Friends Forever?) stitched for my craft room. I've seen this one done on 40 ct and would love to try it. Just haven't gotten up the nerve yet. Anyway, just another couple things to add to the ever-growing "want to do list".

I also received Sampler Sisters of the Thread chart from The Primitive Needle. I would love to just dig into this one, but I don't have any fabric that would fit the piece. It's a shame I didn't have this a little earlier, because I finally broke down and ordered a few pieces:

I ordered some 40 ct Relic on the left, 36 ct Limited Edition Reindeer and 40 ct Legacy (can't see the mottling, but it's nice) on the right. The Reindeer is the fabric I ordered for The Plantation Sampler which I'm suppose to be stitching as we speak. I joined a SAL and had all intentions of putting in a few stitches in this weekend and I never got there. Story of my life! I'm going to try this week. (Have I ever mentioned I stink at SALs?)

Last, but not least, I was wandering around my local Joanne Fabrics last week and spied these on sale for $14.99 a piece! Gingher Criss Scissors! I love, love blue and white! I had ordered the smaller ones off the Bay of Evil for a pretty good price, but not as good as $14.99. Seems that I've developed a scissors fetish (mainly due to Terri - well, I have to blame someone, don't I???). I asked the girl at the checkout (who was besides herself because she didn't know they were marked down and almost bowled me over checking me out so she could go grab some) if they did this often. She said that when a new one was scheduled to be released, they put their old stuff on sale. Well, that's great news. So if you need scissors, run to Joanne's.

Well, I think that's about it. I have to go catch up on four days worth of blogs! I have to say that I enjoyed all your comments to my last post (which seems like I made ages ago) about Costco/Sam's addiction. I didn't realize that so many people were in love with that store or had husbands that loved those stores. I got a kick out of all of them. It's nice to know that you're not alone! Hope that everyone has a great stitching week and thanks again for all the great comments. I sometimes try to reply to them, but lately I just haven't had the time to do that! I'm going to try to be better!!