Bloglovin Why oh why?

Hello all,

I have been reading all my blogs on Bloglovin but in order to "claim" my blog I have to make this post. The things we do. :)

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I will be back later with a longer post with pictures after the weekend.

Ta Ta for now,
Angela

Pictures finally!!

I finally remembered to take good decent pictures last night.

First off are a couple of soon to be Halloween ornaments. both of these are done on a lovely orange 28ct (something). I don't have the piece of paper that my wonderful LNS puts with the fabric. It is a little stiff for my liking but I couldn't pass up the color.

This was done 1 over 1 using 310.

 

This little cutie was done 2 over 1 using JAR Designs Pea Green.

 

At first I couldn't decide if I wanted to let the orange come through on the eyes and mouth or not. Then my little girl told me that I needed to fill them in. I think she had the right idea. I will go through my fabric this weekend and see what I have that will set these two off.

 

Next up is my progress with March's Daffodil from Cottage Garden Samplings.

 

 

A few more flowers and some of the border and I will be onto April.

 

I didn't get any stitching done last weekend because I went to the Outlaws Muddfest.

I think I was the cleanest one there. lol

 

I had thought to bring my stitching with me but then I remembered...stitching + mud does not equal a happy time. Even though this is not an event I would normally go to, I ended up having a wonderful time.

 

Ta Ta for now,

Angela CG

Settings Change and a Good Read

Hello everyone,

I finally had to change my settings to not allow Anonymous commenter. I seemed to have acquired a major spammer. I didn't realize how bad it was. I receive and comment via my email. I don't know what made me go to my comment section but I had almost 200 spam messages!! Yikes!! If that doesn't fix the problem I am going to have to put comment verification on. I want to apologize for not realizing sooner that this was a problem. Why must some people create such havoc?

I have been stitching like crazy this week but still have not taken any pictures. *sigh* One day I will remember. Since I can't seem to get into a good rhythm stitching on my lunch break I have been reading. I originally purchased my tablet thinking that I could play all the same games as my I-Phone but since I didn't purchase the I-Pad (it was going to cost $700 more than what I did pick up) I can't play all the same games. But what it does have is the Kindle app. So now I can take a book everywhere with me. Don't get me wrong, I still love paper books. I enjoy the way they feel in my hand and even the way they smell. But there are sometimes a book is too cumbersome to fit in your purse or pull out while waiting in line.

Following links in other blogs I stumbled upon a wonderful author Susan Shay. (follow the link to her blog) I picked up both her books and love them. I can't wait until her next one comes out. I have picked up quite a reading list by the reviews other people have posted. I have also found that some of the classics can be picked up for free. I remember reading quite a few of them when I was younger. I am very happy that I have picked some of them up again. As an adult you have a different perspective of what a book is about. For example...The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I think I first read this book when I was twelve. When your that young anything secret is a draw. I remembered the book as a nice entertaining read about a girl who is sent somewhere that had a great big garden and she found a part that she was not supposed to be in and her adventures there. Reading it as an adult you see so much more. The transformation from unhealthy to healthy children both physically and mentally. And the virtues of children being allowed to play outside. I am not very good with reviews so I will stop there. But I did want to mention that sometimes it is good to re-read books. You may be amazed at what new wonders you will discover.

On that note I will take my leave. Must get back to work.

Ta Ta for now,
Angela CG

Weekend Update and a Great Father's Day Giveaway

These last couple of weeks have been very productive. I started and completed the "My Garden Journal" cover page.

Of course I didn't happen to have the called for threads on hand so I improvised. I love the colors I used instead. Since I am not at home I don't remember which ones I actually used but I think the combination is great. I also just put the year instead of adding my initials. I plan on making this into a small pillow either with just the extra fabric, or a larger one. I haven't decided yet.

I have also started March of the series. I was able to complete the left half of pattern this weekend. I forgot to take a picture this morning before I left for work so you will just have to wait until it is complete before you get to see it.

I also took a break from making X's to sew three bags together for WOCS. Two weeks ago I completed two other bags for them. This is the first time making bags and I found that I really enjoyed making them.

This is a fun fabric to look at. I made this the first weekend

 

This was also made the first weekend. I used fleece and an old pillow case I found at Salvation Army.

 

Another walker bag. For some reason blogger has decided to put this picture sideways. I have it saved correctly. If you look closely those little dots are hearts. I thought they looked perfect with the little girl.

 

Another sideways pic. This one is a wheelchair bag. Quick and easy to make.

 

One more wheelchair bag.

 

I have decided that I am going to concentrate on my personal stitching for a while but I will still put some time into making the bags. This way I can still participate but also get some of those projects sitting in my basket done.

Now, onto the giveaway I mentioned. Kathy at Kathyinozarks has teamed up with Rita of Sticks N Stones Gifts to make a wonderful Father's Day basket. Head on over here to take a peak and enter.

Good luck.

Well I need to get back to work so I will see everyone later.

Ta Ta for now,
Angela CG

Time for an Update

Hello All.

There has been a lot and yet very little going on at the same time. I don't remember if I have mentioned that I finally started working. My job location is about 45 to 55 minutes away. (Sometimes a little less when traffic cooperates). This can make for some very long days. Now that things have finally settled down with DD school troubles we are finally getting on a schedule again. This weekend was the first weekend in a while that I stopped myself from playing on the computer and got to stitching.  I finished up the butterfly below for WOCS and started and finished the cross for Quilts for older children and adults. I wanted to make sure that I was able to get these pieces in the mail today and I did. Now I can start to concentrate on those WIP's that are sitting in my basket(s) calling my name so loudly.

 

 

I have also started sewing for WOCS and I am loving it. The other week I made my first walker bag

 

this is made with cream fleece and an old flannel pillow case.

I wasn't sure that the materials would hold up or work well together but they do. The flannel gives the pockets and back stability while the fleece gives it softness. If figured the colors in the stitched piece and the walker bag are neutral enough to be given to either a man or woman. I am not sure you can tell from the picture but there is a full water bottle in one of the big pockets and I made a smaller pocket from the stitched piece for those little things that a person doesn't want to dig at the bottom of a bag for (change/ID). The second bag I put together was this cute little tote. It came out much better than I thought it would since I started out by cutting my original fabric wrong. (Reminder: always double check where your fold is when cutting your fabric) I didn't and ended up with two pieces when I only wanted one. :( Thankfully I picked up some other fabric (just for stash) that ended up working just as well.

 

Well, that's all for today. Need to get to work.


Ta Ta for now,
Angela CG



Long overdue update

 I just love looking at all the different fabric choices offered at 44th Street Fabric who is having a wonderful giveaway this month. Stop by for a visit.

Absolutely no update on any of my Scarlet Letter pieces.

My Garden Journal has January complete and February almost completed. I will post another picture when I complete February. I received the chart for March and will start on that soon.

WOCS - two snowflakes are complete and just need to be sent. I am working on a butterfly

Q4OC - Mystery Heart almost complete but had to stop for a little bit because it was becoming one of those "Have To" stitches that just didn't want to get done. Need to complete my butterfly and cross pieces.

Still no job yet. The last interview I went on was perfect. The interviewers were very impressed but was then told that they are going to wait a while before the job becomes available. Just received a call and have another interview set up for Friday. I liked being at home but now I am ready to be around people (sorry to say that baby girl is not quite old enough to count right now). I need to have conversations with other adults.

During this time I was picked as the second winner from CraftyCat's Grow Your Blog Party Giveaway. When I found out that I won my daughter happened to be in the room. She said "Aw Mom, you are always winning stuff. I really like those colors". I kinda had to laugh at this and mentioned it in my email to Cathy. My plan was to give her the bracelet when I received it. To my surprise there was a second bracelet made just for my little girl. She was soooo happy to receive it. Thank you so much Cathy.

Here they are together. It wasn't until I was getting the pictures ready

 for posting that I realized we were photo bombed by our eldest Tigerlily.

I have been reading every one's blogs but have not had the energy, will, desire whatever, to make comments. I will not boor anyone with all the details but I am having a hard time trying to keep it together lately. Not quite sure what to do but I do know that somehow things will all work out. Hopefully before too much longer.

As far as this whole Google Reader going away I don't seem to have a problem with Bloglovin. When I signed up I wasn't required to post anything about people following me (maybe I didn't do something right?). I tend not to read the snippets on the front page and just go straight to the blogs. What I find nice is that when I click on the name of the post I can go to that post and on the top of the screen is a place that I can go to the next blog I like to read without having to exit from that screen and then there is to counter up there as well so that I can know how many new posts I have not yet read. I find that I like this method because I enjoy seeing the original post. I guess I am simple that way.

Ta Ta for now,
Angela

Long time no see and Giveaway at Seasons of my Mind

Hello everyone. I am sorry I have been away for so long. I have been working on an exchange piece that I was unable to show. I finally finished it and will be mailing the package out this Monday. The next piece I will be working on is a butterfly and a mystery heart for Q4OCA. Both of these items need to be done quickly so that I can meet my deadlines. I want to work on my SL piece and my new My Garden Journal pieces but I need to work on these other two first.

If you don't want to hear me vent, please skip to the next paragraph where there will be more interesting news. I just have to say that those pet parents who do not take care of their animals and the home that they live in should not be pet parents. By not paying attention the their pet's needs and training them properly, they make it much harder for those of us who are responsible to rent homes. The previous tenants tore this place up. Every wall in my Dad's trailer either has a hole or torn up somehow. Every carpet smells like dog pee. So far we have ripped up carpet from one room, replaced one toilet (soon to be two). Why don't people take care of where they stay? I understand that it may not be yours but wouldn't you be embarrassed to have people come over if your house stinks? I don't understand it. What does this mean? I went from living in a nice place that I took care of to living in a place that needs so much work that I would be embarrassed to let anyone come in that did not have to come in. Even then I really do not even want to let the professionals in. It is very embarrassing. The upside of all this mess...I now know that I can lay laminate tile. By the time I am finished I will be able to lay tile and paint like a pro. And I have learned that you can sometimes save carpet. I don't remember where I heard or read this but it works. You will need a spray bottle full of vinegar, a box of baking soda and a vacuum. Remember Science class? If you put these ingredients together in the right amounts your volcano will erupt but in this case it will also eliminate odors and remove the scent markers that your animals try to use. First spray a generous amount of vinegar onto the area. (This method is best on carpet but you can use it for all surfaces. The only thing that will change is the time the mixture will stay.) Immediately sprinkle with baking soda. If you are trying to clean carpet leave the vinegar/baking soda mix on for about an hour. Then vacuum. The smell will be gone. You will probably need to steam clean the carpet due to other stains but the smell will be gone and there will no longer be a scent marker for your animals to remark. Sorry for the small rant. Onto better things.

Parsley is having a wonderful giveaway at Seasons Of My Mind. Please go and visit this wonderful lady. Even when she is not having a giveaway her posts are an inspiration.

Even with all the problems in my new home I have to admit that I am loving the new location. I have two quilt shops (I just learned about the second) in the area, a needlework shop and a yarn shop that also has stitching sessions twice a week. My little one saw the sign one day as we were driving to the grocery store. I figured I would go in and drool over admire the yarns. Then I got to talking to the owner and found out that he and his wife spin/knit/hold classes as well as host a gathering of other like minded people. I thought about it for a day and decided that it would be a great idea to go. I am so glad I did. Even though everyone there either was knitting or spinning (yes some people even had their spinning wheels with them...it was wonderful) they welcomed us crocheter's with open arms. I was even told at one point during the night that I could do everything the knitters did with crochet. I felt so welcome and will go back again soon. I decided to sign up for a knitting class. This is something I have thought about doing for some time now. Once my little one knew what I was doing she said she wanted to learn as well. How could I refuse that? Of course I couldn't resist so next month we will be taking a class together. I am betting that she will be telling me how to knit before it is all over (hehe). I am so thankful that she is interested in working with thread along side me. I am so blessed.

I know that there is more that I wanted to say but I can't remember right now. Oh well, when I do remember I will post again. I just wanted to thank all of you for sticking with me during this time of adjustment. I enjoy keeping up with everyone but I may not be posting very much for a little while.

Ta Ta for now,
Angela

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Spring Giveaway!!

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is having a giveaway for spring colored hand dyed floss here. Stop by and tell her I sent you. I just love her flosses. They are so easy to work with and the colors are amazing.

Now that I don't feel like sleeping the whole day away I am going to unpack a few boxes and as a reward I am going to put in a few xx's on a secret project. I started last night since it was the first time I was able to sit up without my head feeling like it was going to float away and was able to make wonderful progress. Pictures??? Well maybe a sneak peak.

I am enjoying this stitch very much. I will get another part completed and maybe move back to my Scarlet Letter Sampler. It feels very good to get back to stitching.

Ta Ta for now,
Angela (the crazy cat lady in TX) as my daughter calls me.

Welcome to SA (Stichaholic Annonymos)

Hello my name is Angela and I am a stitchaholic. Here is my story. We arrived at our new home at 7pm on Sunday night. At that time my brother, his wife and I unloaded the U-Haul and trailer. After a couple of hours we were able to unload everything and were on the way to return the truck and stop at Wally World to pick up a few necessities. The next day the kitchen and living room get unpacked. By the time we went to bed Monday night my throat was very scratchy. I just thought that maybe I didn't drink enough water. By morning the scratchy throat turned into a sore throat, a cough, achy body and stuffy & runny nose. For the next two days I didn't get off the couch except for the short trips to the bathroom. My little one brought me food and medicine. Such a sweet girl! I am so thankful for her. By Thursday I finally feel better and think that it is now time to go grocery shopping since there is nothing in the house. I pull myself together and get ready to go. On the way to get groceries we stopped a few places to see what they had available for our living room (we needed a couple end tables and a bedroom side table). We were able to find a couple of things. So far so good. Still feeling pretty good. While waiting at a light I happen to notice a sign for a quilt shop. I get very excited. I mention something to my little one and she says "Oh that one. I saw a commercial for that one. Didn't you hear me tell you?" I am sitting there thinking...of course not, I have been laying there in a drug induced haze. Why didn't you make sure I was awake? Oh well, I immediately turn into the plaza and search for the place. Oh what heaven! The owner and other sales clerks in the store were the nicest people. They had such lovely fabrics and the quilts on display were amazing. I was so overwhelmed at having a LQS 10 minutes from my front door I completely forgot to take pictures. I was very good and didn't purchase anything (but that was with the promise that the next time I went in I could indulge). We continued on to the grocery store and went home. The shopping trip wiped me out and I was again in bed for the rest of the night. Waking up late this morning I felt so much better.I went online and looked for a LNS and I was able to find one in the next town over. (In our area that is only about 20 minutes away). We got ready to go. It was time to register for school (which will only accept registrations between 8:00 am and 9:30 am). So off we went. The shop is called Nedlewerkes. I thought yesterday was wonderful. Today was so much better!!!

This is Lois McMaster of Nedlewerkes showing off the newest product in the shop...custom made cross stitch project bags. I forgot to take a closeup picture but they are wonderful. There are places for your pattern, floss, fabric and needles. Each bag is one of a kind. This is now on my wish list!

Lois has such a wonderful shop! So much room! Such wonderful projects available! She is a wonderful person who gladly spent over an hour to help me pick just the right items for my current projects and my exchange pieces. Wait...there is more. I took my little one with me. While I was looking around so was my little one. Lois asked her is she stitched and My Girl said "Sometimes" and Lois immediately said "Come over here and lets get you a kit that is just right for you". She took the time to get her a design she would like and let her pick a color of Sullivan's floss. While we there a phone call came in and she took the time to find out what floss and how much the customer needed and was ready to send it out to her immediately. If you are ever in the Killeen/ Copperas Cove area of Texas stop by and you will never regret it.

As I am typing this post the little one is working on her new kit. She is loving it. I am so thankful to have Lois and Nedlewerkes so near. I am off to put a few XX's in my own project. I hope your weekend is filled doing what you love doing.

Ta Ta for now,
Angela CG in TX

We have arrived!

Hello All!

Warning...this is a long post.

Teresa at At Willow Tree Pond is hosting a 3rd year blogoversary. Go check it out.

Thank you for your patience while I have been away. We arrived in Texas on Sunday. The extra help we thought would be here was unable to help but that is OK. We were able to unload everything that goes into the house in about 2 hours. Thank goodness. It took us a total of 5 hours to pack the truck, trailer and car Friday and early Saturday (and we had 6 people loading). That was not fun. I am thankful to all my friends who helped us load up. I do not want to have another weekend like this last one. On Friday my daughter and I were at 2 (yes crazy I know) Girl Scout cookie booths. Then we went home and loaded the truck. At about 10 pm when we couldn't fit anymore into the U-Haul we sent everyone home after much thanks and hugs. Then we got up on Saturday to load the rest of my things. A note of warning will be mentioned. If you think all your things will fit in one size truck, upgrade to the next larger size. You will be much happier and everything will fit. This is not what I did and we packed the trailer we were taking almost as high as the truck. We were a sight to see driving down the road. Gas mileage could have been better but then again...we were a little overloaded. But the drive went smoothly. I even had the chance to have the car all to myself. My little one decided she wanted to ride the whole way with her uncle. He was such a good uncle and let her. I was able to listen the the book "The Hunger Games". I have to admit that I am very glad I picked up the audio version. I don't think that I would have been able to get into the story line if I actually read the paper version. It is a very good book. Needless to say that I have not picked up a needle in over a week. I have put some loops in my latest crochet blanket but even that is not that much farther along. Yesterday was devoted to putting the kitchen in order and getting the living room put together. Last night I went to bed with a scratchy throat and woke up with it on fire. Today the only thing I was able to do was sleep and put up my books. At least that is another 6 boxes out of the way.

The place we moved into needs some work. The previous tenants were very bad animal parents. They let their dog(s) pee in the house and did nothing to eliminate the urine smell. We now need to replace almost all the carpets in the house. I think the only room they made sure didn't receive this treatment was the master bedroom. This means that the little one's room is in a stage of disrepair. She will need to wait until next weekend before we can (hopefully) move her in. We will be working on a temporary solution this week so that she can have her own space. The schools in GA are on Winter break this week but here they went back to school today. We are giving her a couple of days to adjust to the new place before she is registered.

Hopefully by the end of this coming weekend we will have most if not all the boxes emptied and my craft supplies organized. We moved into a majorly slightly smaller place and it is a horror fun trying to find where to put everything we brought. It can and will be done. I expect to be back to posting progress pictures in the next few weeks. Since there are no stitching photos I will leave you with a couple of others.

Gizmo hiding before the move.

 

The boys curled up together during the drive.

The living room almost complete.

Ta Ta for now,
Angela (now in Texas)

Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop

I am participating in this year's Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop coordinated by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching to celebrate Valentine's Day. I received this lovely patchwork heart.

Don't you just love the colors? Go to Jo's Blog to see every one's valentine. Thank you secreet valentine.

Ta Ta for now,
Angela

I just can't stay away!

My house is chaos!!! Imagine this...
Three households, one living space, two moves...My parents are finally combining their households and all is being shipped to the new destination. For the last two months I have had less than half the living space I am used to. During all this I am trying to pack and sort all my accumulated belongings for my move. Very little space is left. Many headaches have shown up at my house due to minds being changed, changed again, then changed back to the original and balls going sideways.

The end is in site folks. We are T-minus 4 days. I think most of my packing is complete but I can't completely tell until the packers/movers have completed their tasks. Which leads me to why I am posting with so little time left in my own move. You see, there are currently 6 big guys working all over my house packing, re-packing and moving my parent's things. I am finding it very hard to stay out of their way. All I want to do is get up and work on my packing, but when every I start to I find that I am in their way. I get a look and a very gentle "Excuse me Ma'am". I am resigned to a small corner of my living room. I don't know about any of you, but when someone is working near me I find it very difficult to not get up and work too. :) I am too antsy to work on any cross stitching and my current crochet piece is "somewhere" in this mess. I can't even get up to find it! :(

Now onto some fun stuff. I was the winner of Sara's Grow your Blog Party at www.justanotherflamingo.blogspot.com . She sent me some wonderful things.

This will be wonderful to learn on.

An OPP box, pretty pink hand dyed silks, a candle, some plants to grow and last but not least the cutest pink sparkly fabric. I already have a few ideas for this.

Thank you so much. It was such a lovely and thoughtful surprise. I am going to leave you with a few pictures while I go stalking blog hopping.

Ta Ta for now,
Angela

STNA Blog Hop # 15

Even though I said I would be MIA I can not miss Loretta's Blog Hop at Stitching the Night Away.

The blogging prompt for hop #15 is:

Eventually there comes a time when you’re not feeling well, whether it’s the flu or a cold or something else entirely. The question is, do you manage any stitching when you’re under the weather or does it just have to wait for better days?

I had to think about this one for a bit since it has been a while since I have been under the weather. I would have to say that all stitching. I may crochet some but not much. I will usually curl up under my blanket and stare sightlessly at the TV.

Visit all the blogs in this round of the Stitching the Night Away Stitching Blogger Blog Hop:
Find the instructions on how to participate in this round by clicking here.

Update and soon to be MIA

Good evening everyone.

I hope you all have had a weekend full of stitching and creating. This weekend for me has had only a little bit of creating. On Saturday we had our Girl Scouts Thinking Day. I stayed at our table and talked for a couple of hours letting one of the other parents walk with the girls around the room. We ended up having almost 400 girls attend. All in all the girls had a wonderful time and had the chance to learn about many different countries that also have Girl Scouts/Girl Guides. Then the rest of the weekend has been spent packing and getting the house ready to sell. After 4 years of living in one place a person can accumulate quite a lot. I think I have as much stuff to put in our moving/yard sale as I plan on taking to the new place. Any thing that is left after the second day will be picked up by one of our local charities. I will not take any of that stuff with me. Right now we are T-minus 12 days until we actually pull out of our driveway and on our way to our new home. Because we only have a few more days I will be packing all my cross stitch pieces away. By the time I end each day lately I am worn out. Trying to decide what to keep, sell/giveaway, or what is trash is an exhausting process. All the memories (both good and bad) come surging into my heart and mind during a move. I will also not be posting for a couple of weeks. I will not have anything to post since all but a little bit of my yarn will be packed. I will be keeping up with everyone since I will not be able to go without my fix of all things creative but may not comment. lol. Now on to what you have been waiting for...pictures...

Full view

Close up. I am enjoying the way the colors are popping out on this fabric

I have also been crocheting. I found this pink/white/green variegated yarn a couple weeks ago and it has been calling to me. I started working on a small blanket and loving the way the colors are blending into one another. I am a very basic stitcher and most of my items are either in single or double stitch.



Bernat Baby Sport Tiny Tulips

 

In addition I found little balls of yarn here and there. You know the ones that get left over when you complete a project. I decided that I would use these to make a granny squares. Eventually I will put all these together into an afghan but for now, it is a quick little stitch to use up those little odds and ends laying around.

 

 

Well folks, that is all I have for now.

 

Ta Ta for now,

Angela the crazy cat lady.



Giveaway and theWinner is....

I found the following giveaways recently. Go check them out
Giveaway:
Melissa at St. John's Stitcher

Also:
Heather at Heather's Stitching Story


I will not be posting much in the next couple of weeks because I am in the process of moving and will not have a whole lot of time to stitch. I will have one or two pieces out but I can't say that I am going to have much energy to work on them. As soon as I get settled in the new place I will be back stronger than ever. Now on the what everyone is really here for and that is the winner of my giveaway. This number was generated by a random number generator.




















and the winner is....




Who said....

pippirose said...

The ornament is lovely. I`d love to be entered into your giveaway.
I look forward to reading more of your blog, and I am a new follower.
:o)

 

Congratulations. I will email you for your address.

The date has been set

Good morning (afternoon) everyone.

Our move date has been set and now it is just a matter of finishing packing, getting lights turned on/off in their respective places, finding the school, transfering cable, water and deciding what can NOT be packed until the last moment. That is the hardest part I think. No pictures today as there is too little progress on anything to take note of. Can't stay long today as there is lots to do.

Ta Ta for now,
Angela the crazy cat lady (as my daughter likes to call me)

Lets all help!

Nancy over at Victorian Motto Sampler Shop has found a way to help her friend Gaynor. Please stop by and visit her blog to find all the details and links to help this wonderful lady.

Ta Ta for now,
Angela

Update

This week has been a roller coaster. I completed my first Scarlet Letter sampler and was trying to decide which project to pick back up or to start. I just couldn't make up my mind. I wanted to start AW 1662 but got scared of the different stitches involved. I thought about picking up An Acrostic Sampler, but didn't like the linen provided. I decided to work on another snowflake for WOCS for a little while until I could make a decision. I worked on it for a night an then this wonderful pink and white variegated yarn caught my eye. I started working on a small blanket with it until I could make a decision. I was still going back and forth when I decided to get out of the house one afternoon and when to my LNS. I figured since I didn't care for the linen sent with either sampler I would look for something else and maybe that would help me decide. I looked at my charts and wrote down what sized pieces I would need. So armed I figured I could go in and look/feel for a fabric I would fall in love with an be able to walk out. How wrong I was thinking that I could walk out without picking up anything else. I walked into the shop and the first thing I saw was all the lovely charts set out. I think I spent a good 1/2 hour looking at the different charts I didn't get a chance to look at the last time I went in. I have to admit that some of the charts were quite old (the plastic that they placed the charts in disintegrated upon touch). But there were others that were new. I figured since I had the time I would look thru them all OK, most of them (wasn't at all interested in the animal charts). I was in heaven. My wish list grew and grew but my wallet was reminding me that I did not have enough for all of them and my head was reminding me that I would still have to pack them all. :( Did that stop me from dreaming and drooling over them? Of course not!!! I picked up a couple charts/kits and carried them around with me for a while. I finally decided on...

Cat Lessons for People

As I was checking out the gentleman helping me stated that a customer came in earlier and said that they were not going to use a piece of fabric and gave it to him. He then asked me if I could use it. For about 30 seconds I was speechless then said yes, I would be able to use the piece. He then placed the fabric in my bag with no charge. I am so glad I went in and supported my local store. The second chart I picked up is...

ABC Lessons

This one I decided to use a piece of linen I received in one of my SL kits. I settled on a Mocha 32ct Lugana for AW 1662

and a 28ct Royal Linen in Spun Silver for my Acrostic Sampler.

I got home put my wonderful additions away and finally overcame my fear and started AW 1662. I am so glad I did. I am loving every stitch.

Just one more note...Parsley from Seasons of my Mind and I participated in a Valentine exchange. I posted what she sent me in an earlier post. I still love it and keep it near me in my stitching chair. My DD still asks me if she can have it. I hate disappointing her, but in this I must. I will NOT give it up. :) Now that I know Parsley has received my gift I can show you what I sent her.

Front (with the card I made)

Back

 

I found the cutest heart buttons to put on the top of the little biscornu.

Ta Ta for now,
Angela the crazy cat lady (as my daughter calls me)

My first Scarlet Letter Sampler

I have to say that I never new I would need a magnifier. I always figured my eyes were good enough for any fabric. That is until I started SL's ABCD 1817 on 30 count unbleached linen with every stitch one strand of floss over one thread. After the first row (where I am still not sure if I crossed every "X") I put this on aside. A week later I finally purchased my magnifier and worked on a valentine exchange to allow my eyes time to adjust. I completed the piece. Then I picked this one back up. I only put it down one night as my eyes decided they were too tired. I have to admit that I enjoyed every stitch. The only problem I had is that I used the wrong color on two letters and didn't have enough for another letter later on. I had to substitute another color. I don't think that the color change on the one letter detracts too much. Now onto the finished picture:

Since this piece is so small I think I am going to make a pillow out of it. Now I just have to decide if I am going to start SL's AW 1662

or An Acrostic Sampler

Any suggestions?

Ta Ta for now,

Angela CG

Grow your Blog Pt 2 Giveaway

When I put my post together yesterday for 2 Bags Full Grow Your Blog Party I forgot to add a giveaway to be picked on February 1st. This is open to any person, any where as long as you leave a comment on this post. No need to be a follower. There will be...

this lovely kit and maybe something stitched by me. This will be my first giveaway ever. I am very excited!!!









Now on to another stitchy finish.

 

My first pillow ornament.

 

 

This is the second snowflake I made from the January pattern of the 2013 Ornament Pattern Club from STNA. This is the first of my handmade ornaments for my Christmas tree.

 

This was such a cute little pattern. Thank you Loretta for designing this one.

 

I am off to stalk read a few blogs now. Have a wonderful weekend.

 

Ta Ta for now,

Angela

Grow your blog party

I started this blog in August of 2012 to have a record of the stitching projects I completed. At the time (and even now) there are few people near me that I can share my obsession passion hobby with. I found that not only do I have a place to share my progress but I also found a large group of friends that encourage me to continue stitching on the days that are filled with the madness that is life in my zoo. Thank you for my current followers and any new ones that may start after/during this party.

Now onto the part we all enjoy...finishes.

This latest finish is not a cross stitch piece but I enjoyed making it none the less. This one was made for a former co-worker. She is classic and distinguished and this particular fabric called her name. She also loves boxes and funky jewelry.

 

 

I painted a plain wood box black, put a coat of polyurethane and then put a piece of fabric in the bottom and on the top then filled it with goodies. Today was the first chance I had to see her since before Christmas. I received a message from her a little while ago and was told that she loved every bit of it. I already have a top ready for the next box, I just need to decide on a color for the box. This time I think I am going to go with a stain instead of paint. Another gift for the present box. Maybe this way I will be ahead of the game on gifts for 2013.

I also completed my exchange gift (no pictures yet) and will be mailing that out tomorrow. I am working on another snowflake from STNA and a different snowflake for WOCS. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend filled with lots of stitching.

Ta Ta for now,
Angela the Crazy Cat Lady (as my daughter calls me).