Happy dancing.. I finally finished something!

This ornament has taken me forever- it was my lunchtime project- and after a while it seemed I was always running errands at lunch, then we got Ginger so I started coming home at lunch to feed her and take her outside(not that I'm complaining) so my stitching time has been limited. I have found a few minutes here and there, and today, thanks to the stitching group that meets at our local quilt shop once a month, I finally made some real progress.  So tonight I was determined to finish it! I'm not sure I am real happy with the beading, it's not the way I usually do them.. but I really don't want to re-do them either. I don't know.  I don't remember the fabric I stitched it on but I did substitute some colors -CC Desert Mesquite for Olde Willow English Ivy, WDW Hazelnut for Olde Willow Quaker Churchyard Adobe, and I think all the othe colors I used were the recommended ones. This is from either the 2002 or 2003 JCS Ornament issue I think- all I have is my working copy handy right now and it doesn't say on there.. but the copyright on the pattern is 2002.  Well I better get to bed, it's getting late- just had to share!

Sorry I've been absent again..

It's been busy here lately- Mom and Dad came to visit on Friday and stayed til Monday.  We had an awesome time as always! Friday night we all went out to eat, to celebrate most of our birthdays- mine of course was Oct. 27, Dad's was Nov. 2, Hanna's was yesterday, and Mom's is on the 24th. Saturday Rob had to work and the rest of us did this and that- started the day at Starbucks♥, did a little shopping.. took Mom and Dad to the Thistle Bee Quilt Shop, and out to my somewhat-LNS to pick up the beads for Summer House- which ended up being too big... so I'm back to square one.  It was my own fault, I didn't bring the piece with me and forgot I had used the petite beads. Sunday we went to church in Raleigh- Mom and Dad are Greek Orthodox and we don't have any Orthodox churches for miles- so we went to All Saints Antiochian Orthodox Church.  They were dedicating their new sanctuary-which is just beautiful!

We also saw some nice fall colors on the way-

The photos really don't do them justice!

Here are a couple more I took near home-

And last but not least- some stitching progress on my Brightneedle ornament- I'm starting to think I should've put it on a slightly darker fabric, but oh well, live and learn! ;)

Oh, and my baby girl turned 13 yesterday- how time flies!!

Look- her hair matches my dad's car! hee hee..

A giveaway and update..

Sorry again I have taken so long in posting..it had been a while already and then my laptop cord died and I had to get a new one.. ahhh you don't want to hear my excuses.. ;) But my laptop cord really did die. And we no longer have a desktop computer.

Been doing a little stitching- working some on my lunch hour on "Decorating the House" (some progress pics on my photo blog) and also on "Beach Cottage." Arrghh just realized I have misplaced my camera! I think it's in my car and it's cold out there.. plus I'm in my pj's.. so pics tomorrow.

Here is a photo of a pink flower that turned up in my garden- I buy mixed seeds cause I like "never knowing what I'm gonna get" so these were a beautiful surprise! I have two so far and it looks like another one is going to bloom soon.. This one is saved on my computer so I can share it with you.

And since this is pink.. let me mention a great "pink" giveaway over at Tickled Pink in Stitches and a great post about breast cancer detection.  DJ is an inspiration and a survivor!

I did just come across a picture of "Decorating the House" - got a little more done today that isn't showing in the picture- the upper window is finished. Now on to the roof!

Well I better go- will remember my camera tomorrow and try to remember to post those photos! I also have a new start- "Autumn Side" by San Man Originals. :)

EEK!

I can't believe how long it's been since I last posted- time flies! I haven't been stitching as much as I should- have been getting into couponing and also swapping coupons with some friends, and that takes a little time.. also been spending too much time on facebook- I don't mean to- I will get ready to sign off and then think of something I wanted to look up or someone I need to message, or just get wrapped up in a game.  I really need to set a timer when I get on there, and sign off when it dings!

I have been getting a little stitching in on my lunch break project - "Decorating the House" by Brightneedle, from one of the JCS Ornament issues.. am stitching it one over one on 32 count something or other.. hee hee.. I think it is a Silkweaver fabric of some sort.

I have been working a little on Summer House too this week- will post a pic soon. I'm almost done with the trees, have a chimney to stitch and then I can start on the sky.  Then comes alllllll the beads.. sigh.. maybe it will go faster than I think. :)

My garden has been surviving the heat, some of it anyway.. here are some new flowers that have popped up recently-

I have a couple of other plants that are growing really tall but no blooms yet- maybe they are waiting for cooler temps! I know I am!

As far as books go, I am still reading Unfinished Tales by J.R.R. Tolkien.. I am in the home stretch now, less than 100 pages to go.  I confess I am reading the notes that go with the stories but not all the appendices, I am a huge Tolkien fan but I just can't read through all those minute details.  I am really enjoying the book now because it is dealing with the characters I'm familiar with, from the main trilogy.  Tolkien's imagination just blows my mind - his world of Middle Earth is so detailed and planned out, I just can't even express it.  It's just amazing.

School starts soon- hard to believe! I will miss seeing my kids a little more but look forward to getting back into a routine.  I hope it is a great year for both of them. Only about 3 more weeks now!

Thanks for checking in, I know I haven't been the best blogger for a while now.. thanks for hanging with me. :)

To Thee Hope

I finished my Brightneedle ornament today- still need to "finish" it- but thought I'd post anyway. I didn't use the recommended DMC but used overdyeds instead- if anyone is interested this is what I used:

DMC 169- GAST Barn Grey
           318-GAST Bankers Grey
           372-SSS Green Tea Ice Cream
           407-SSS Mocha
           452-WDW Carnation
            524-GAST Green Apple (I didn't actually use this- the two letters that were to be stitched in this color I stitched in a different color-SSS Spice Drop-by accident and just left them alone. )
            927-GAST Evergreen
            3013-WDW Ivy
            3046-WDW Beige
            3053-SSS Spice Drop
            3774-SSS White Peach
            3863-GAST Cidermill brown

I stitched it on BCG Textiles linen, 32 ct.  This was from the 2006 JCS Ornament Issue,  stitched  one strand of floss over one fabric thread .  Now off to work on a Christmas gift...

my tiny angel, Christmas lights, and more..

Hanna and David (with a little chocolate on his face)

Tonight was the annual lighting of the Christmas lights in our historic downtown area.  I took the kids for a little while- Krispy Kreme was giving away a free doughnut to anyone who wanted to wait in line.. lol.. he was even dipping them in chocolate and putting the sprinkles on right there! So the kids and I grabbed a doughnut and waited for the lights to be turned on, and the kids also mixed up some reindeer food (glitter and oats) to leave on the lawn for Santa's reindeer. :)  These pics were taken with my phone so they aren't stellar, though I like the one of the kids.

A shot of "Main St"

the (magnolia) Christmas tree

I've also been working on my Brightneedle Christmas ornament at lunch- I am subbing overdyed threads for the DMC and finally have my conversions all worked out I think- except for one that I missed.

I couldn't get a good pic of this- if I turned my flash on it was too washed out, so I had to use this one. It is one floss thread over one fabric thread- this is sometimes a little nervewracking but I love the dainty stitches. What needles do you use for tiny stitches? I think mine is a little too big.

And last but not least, the bookmark I did for my mom for her birthday- she loved it. :) Some of you may have seen it on the Freebie Gallery blog already. It's by Linen Flowers and it's a freebie! It can be found here . They have lots of really lovely freebies on this site.  Happy stitching!

Did you know...

Brightneedle is now only designing teaching designs and not retail? They are retiring all their designs. :( I may be behind on the times, but I didn't know this until I went to their site today.  So sad.. :( I love their designs!