An almost finish and a test

Trying to blog from my new phone!  Here is a pic of At Home with Jane..I'm so close to finishing but I have to get up early tomorrow!
(OK, it didn't work so great this time- can't rotate my photo and the pic didn't turn out so great! A better picture soon..)

Long time no blog..

So sorry!!  It seems like I do well for awhile keeping up, then I get lazy again.. or sometimes I just get writer's block and I'm not sure what to blog about, especially when I am making slow progress on stitching projects!  But here are some updates anyway!

This is my progress on "At Home With Jane Austen" as of tonight-

Sorry for the bad photo- it's getting hard to fit it all in and still get close enough!

And here is my progress on "Summer House"- I have been working on my lunch break on this one- but have also had some errands to run from time to time on my lunch break so it has been slow going..

I'm finally on the upper portion of the pattern- the blank spots in the bottom half are going to be beads.  I almost always do my beading last, like my mom taught me. :)

We are minus one kid right now- Hanna is visiting my brother-in-law and his family for a little over 2 weeks-kind of a present for being on "A" honor roll all year.  She has been gone one week so far.  I miss my girl but I know it is a good experience for her! And she is having a lot of fun!

David and I went to see "Cars 2" yesterday.  It was really cute, and better than the first one, I thought.  I know many reviews have been not-so-good because the movie isn't all about Lightning McQueen, but I thought the change was nice, and he was in the movie enough given the storyline.  David was super excited to go- we kept it a secret to surprise him, right up until the last minute.

That's life in a nutshell here- better get to bed- I have to work tomorrow! Thanks for being patient with me.  :)

I've been a bad blogger..

again!  I promised you progress on Jane and I forgot to post it.  I posted this pic on my photo-a-day blog too- but here it is..I finished the top and added house to the roof. :)  Sorry it took so long- I have been trying to get my house spiffed up for Mom and Dad; they will be here tomorrow! I am so excited! And to make it even more exciting- the library book sale starts tomorrow! :)

Need opinions please..

Ok, as some of you saw in a previous post- I am stitching "Jane Austen on the Weather" and changed the colors a bit.  I am almost finished-but the color I chose for the block surrounding the year doesn't look right(it was gray.)  So I stitched the year, but should I add the box around it in a different color, (suggestions please :) ) or leave it be? This is what it looks like right now.

Sorry for the crappy pic! Thanks for your opinions. :)

A quick finish and other odds and ends

First of all, wow! I have 101 followers! I can't believe it! I will try to have a little giveaway or something soon.. I'll see what I can come up with.  This week I found out my baby David has his first loose tooth!  And immediately I thought of this old Journey's End(aka Sampler Girl) freebie from 2002(?) That's when I printed it anyway.  So I stitched it up quick and finished it as to be ready for the big day.

I know it's not perfect.. it's only the 2nd time I've done a tin and the 1st time I didn't have Vonna's great tutorials! I will get better with practice. :) I would show you the inside too but I am having problems with this weird blogger uploader, it keeps turning my pictures sideways and I can't get it to turn them back.

Let me try a different way-

Oh, and it was stitched on ivory 28 ct monaco(I think) over one with one strand of DMC-

colors used are DMC 310, 817, 809, and 824. The pattern didn't have any recommended colors. I let David pick them.. except for the black for the wheels.. there is actually only three colors for this pattern but I added one more. :)

David liked that his tooth would have a 'bed' to lay on, he wanted to know if it could have a blanket too? lol

I forgot to mention last weekend I went to a clothing swap a church was sponsoring- you brought clothes you didn't want anymore, and you could look through clothes other people didn't want anymore. Or if you had nothing to donate but needed clothes, you could take some for free. I cleaned out my closet and brought a few things, and really got some nice things! I won't bore you with all of them but I did find a fabulous sweater (if it will EVER get cool enough here!) and it was so pretty I took an up close of it-since it was brown but had other threads woven into it-

It looks kind of light since it was under my Ott-lite, but it really is dark brown and has all those different colors in it too- it's so pretty!

I had to drive to a meeting in Raleigh on Thursday- my boss directed me this way I had never gone before- well my husband said we had but I didn't remember it-it was so nice! Hardly any traffic and the scenery was beautiful-

I think it will be especially pretty once the leaves start to turn! :) May have to take a trip that way again- to the Lazy Daizy maybe?

Friday my son's class and some others had a parents' picnic- moms and dads (or other loved ones) got to come eat lunch on the lawn with their kids.  I decided I would take a picture of David to commemorate the day. Well he figured out that when my camera on my phone makes the shutter sound that he could change his face just in time. So I kept thinking I got a picture of him smiling and instead I got this-

Then this-

Then this-

And finally this-

Hooray!!

And last but not least- progress on the ornament I've been working on- I haven't been stitching on this every week like I should. I need to get on the ball! But here it is so far.

I really like how the brick stitch looks on this!  Well that's it here- hope you didn't mind all the pictures! I will post again soon. 

another completion

Here is a Sampler Girl freebie finally framed- I can't believe I stitched it in 2008! I thought it was last year.  Granted I did wait a while to get the frame from my dad, but I must have put off framing it longer than I thought. Anyway- here 'tis-

I was going to frame Bent Creek's "Blackbird House" yesterday- got it out and contemplated removing the button before I ironed it- but didn't- there was some really bad creases in it and I was having a hard time getting them out so I kind of forgot about the button, and when I flipped it over the little blackbird was all broken.  So now I have to wait to frame it - will have to order another button.   I really need to start rolling my projects up instead of folding them- the creases are so hard to get out after so long a time. That or I need to start finishing all my projects into whatever I plan to do with them, right after I finish stitching them.

Well I was sitting in the Sonic drive-thru the other morning (I love their jr. breakfast burritos and they are only 1.00!) and while I was waiting at the speaker I saw this- I hope you can make out the moth/butterfly- not sure which it was-I think a dark colored butterfly-

It's on the yellow flower in the front. I was so glad I had my camera with me, even if it didn't turn out that great!  The kids and I also saw some deer not far from our house the other day- and got pretty close- but as soon as I got the camera they ran and I just got a couple of blobs. Oh well.

And last but not least- a sign of fall-even though it continues to be in the 90's (ugh) here-

This n' That

Hello everyone- I have been remiss in posting again and I apologize. In my defense I did try to post from my cell phone the other day but it wouldn't go thru. I used to be able to post from my phone with no problem, now all of a sudden it isn't working. 

I don't believe I've posted my progress on "Jane Austen on the Weather" ever- I picked this because it's been sooooo hot this summer, and ironically I may not even finish it before the cooler weather hits. But I am sure here in NC it will be hot next summer too. I changed the colors on this one-sorry it's a bit blurry- I took it with my phone at work. lol

I sent the kids of to school the past couple of weeks-David started kindergarten(sniff sniff) this past Monday and Hanna started on the 25th.  And I always take pics of the first day of school so here they are-

I also framed LK's "Count Your Blessings" and gave it to my friend Holly. This is the frame I originally used for my flip-its but I will just have Dad make me another one. :)

I have currently put my other projects on hold to work on something for someone- can't post pictures cause she might see it. :) but I will once it is given.

I am also going to be listing a ton of old stitching mags and leaflets on ebay in the next day or so. I started today but didn't get very far- I have listed a few Cross Country Stitching magazines from earlier in the decade. I plan on doing the rest tomorrow, before ebay's 'free listing' promo is done. lol My ebay ID is hannasmom1198- I may have a link in my sidebar- I don't remember!

Well that's about it here- please don't give up on me, I will really make an effort to post more often. Thanks for reading!

Sense and Sensibility finished!

Happy dance!! I finished it up last night.  I love the way it turned out!  I need to email my dad and give him the dimensions so he can make me a frame. :) I had a hard time getting a good picture of the whole thing, so I took one, and some closeups of the different little details.. (it was stitched on Summer Khaki belfast linen-32 ct, with recommended threads.)

The pictures are a little dark -sorry!  I am still deciding what to work on next- it's a toss up between another Jane Austen pattern I just ordered or LHN's "Beach Cottage" (I think that's the name..) I'm in the mood to do something summery.  David wants me to stitch him "Percy" from Thomas and Friends- I am putting it off for a little bit cause I'm not looking forward to stitching all that green. :P I need to catch up on my Stitcher's Alphabet too- I am still working on E- and there is that snowman I put aside that I need to finish too. So many options!

I came across this picture- I took it the night of David's graduation, it's a good signing off picture. :)

Updates and some more garden pics-

First a TU SAL update-

I haven't posted and Sense & Sensibility progrss for a while- sorry for the oddball picure-

And now for some more of God's beautiful creation!

and here is one of the buildings next to the castle- I can't remember for sure what it was- maybe the kitchen? (We didn't visit it that day.)

And last but not least- the kids in the guard station!

I should've used the zoom feature! Stay tuned for more pics (I hope you're not bored with them yet)- and don't forget to enter my giveaway for the LK flip it if you haven't already!  Please leave your comment only on the giveaway post if you want to be entered! Thanks!

A snowman with a nose, some S&S progress, and another award!

God bless stitching friends!! Thanks to Sharlotte, my little San Man snowman now has a nose.  She read about my predicament and sent me some of her very own handmade carrot noses.  Thank you Sharlotte! As you can see it is perfect!
I have made quite a bit of progress on my Sense and Sensiblity Sampler since I last posted-

I also worked on "D" of my Stitchers Alphabet but not enough progress to really post about yet!

I also received another award! I couldn't believe it!  I received it from Belinda of Blue Ribbon Designs.  I feel so honored, and even more so because Belinda is cross stitch designer!! Thank you Belinda! This award is for bloggers who inspire others with positivity and creativity. The rules for accepting the award are:

1. Put the logo on your blog or within your post.
2. Pass the award to 12 bloggers.
3. Link the nominees within your post.

4. Let them know they received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

Without further adieu, here are my nominees. I tried to pick different bloggers from the last award, as I read so many wonderful blogs!!

1. Stitching with the Sampler Girl, her blog
2.Lola B's- One Girl Talks
3.Gr8dame's Place
4.Kathy's Stitching Comments
5.Carolyn's Stitching Chatter and More
6.Golden Angel's Works
7.Crafting with the Stitch Witch
8.Sara's Simple Stitching
9.Babs in her Own Little World
10.RobinPich
11.Fripperies and Stitchery
12.The Twisted Stitcher

Phew! Thank you my fellow bloggers for being such an inspiration!

And one more little thing.. if you have read my blog for a while you will know that I love sushi.  When Hanna was with her friend and her friend's family at the mall a week or two ago, she found some sushi earrings and was so excited to show them to me. I have yet to talk her into getting her ears pierced, or she probably would have gotten them for herself! Anyway, we went to the mall today and as soon as I saw them I loved them.  Here they are-

Aren't they the cutest? And these appeared to be the only ones left- so you know it was meant to be.. ;)..

hope everyone has a great week coming up!

Some more progress..

Here is the latest on Tinkerbell and the Sense and Sensibility Sampler- I'm afraid I don't move very fast on the latter- I don't get as much stitching time on Thursdays due to zumba class- not complaining, mind you, I love zumba! And Fridays- sometimes I get lots of stitch time and sometimes I don't..

My weekend project is a little snowman project from San Man- I'm hoping to finish it this weekend but we'll see.. it's not very big but sometimes I take longer to stitch things then I think I will.. Tink up there is a perfect example! lol

The Squeakuel and some progress pics!

A while back, when "Wall-E" was in the theatres, Rob tried to take David to the movies. I told him David would get scared, but he wouldn't listen- needless to say as soon as they turned the lights down David wanted out. So Rob paid money for tickets for nothing. I was a bit nervous when Rob told me David said he would go see "Alvin and the Chipmunks- The Squeakuel" today- I was afraid we'd have a repeat of last time. He was a little nervous at first but was fine, he really enjoyed it. Hanna wanted to see it too but she's at a friend's house so she's going to be mad at me- so I think we will try to go once more before it's out of the theatre. Even though the chipmunks totally annoy me sometimes, it was actually a pretty cute movie. I have eaten way too much already today though, and don't even know if I'll want dinner at this point. Ugh.

Here is my progress on my Brooke's Books SAL- not much of anything yet but I made more progrees this week than I did last week.

I'm pretty excited about this SAL, I just know it's going to be so pretty when it's done!

Here is my progress on my Sense and Sensibility sampler as of last night-

I also got some stash mail yesterday- I ordered from the Stitch and Frame Shop in Rock Hill, SC- got some beads and a charm I needed and the Sampler Girl's "Camille's French Sampler".  If anyone has been wanting to add this to their stash check out the Stitch and Frame shop-she has it on clearance for $2.50! And it's out of print! Snatch it up while you can! :)

In the Kitchen With Jane Austen finished!

I didn't get it finished Friday as I had wanted to, but I did get it finished. Now I need to let my dad know the measurements so he can make me a frame. It will look really nice in our kitchen! Have also finished "Owl on an Egg" but I need to sew the button on. There is no "x" to mark the spot so I have emailed Bent Creek to double check on where it should go. I have only seen one pic of it with the button online.

Oh, and I am selling this pattern-In the Kitchen w/Jane- on ebay if anyone is interested- ID is hannasmom1198. I would love to hang on to it but I rarely stitch anything more than once, and don't have the room to keep things I probably won't stitch again!

As promised..

Here is my progress on "In the Kitchen with Jane Austen." I apologize I have not been better about posting progress on my projects! Now I will be working on LHN's "Winter Wonderland" for the weekend..:)