Exchanges and Gifts

I stitched these two exchanges for the USEBB board! The first one was for Cathy. It was a needle roll exchange. I stitched SB Long May She Wave, I love it. The second one was a Shaker exchange for Becky. I used the AYS Necessities pattern for this one.

I also stitched a little Easter fob for my friend Karen! I used JN Hummingbead Heaven for this one and finished it as a fob. Other than these bits and pieces I've been working on another exchange, Mother's Day gifts and my my mom's birthday fobs. Hope you all are having a great week!

USEEB Exchanges

As a part of the USEBB Spring Quaker exchange I received the most gorgeous pinkeep from Becky. I also got lots of other fun bits and pieces. I was really spoiled, the pinkeep is finished perfectly. Thanks again, I really loved everything you sent :-).

I also joined in the USEBB Neede Roll exchange. I received this needle roll from Myrna. She also sent along some great bits and pieces. I love it, the whole package had a chocolate mint theme. Thank you so much! It was wonderful :-).

A Few More Bday Presents

I recieved this gorgeous pinball from Veronica for my birthday as a part of the Legacy Birthday group. I just love it and if I am really honest I did try to drop a few hints that I wanted one :-). So I was very pleased to get it in the mail.

I also got this pretty cushion from Mylene as a part of the Stitching Bloggers Bday/Xmas Exchange. The picture doesn't do it justice.

Finally Carol sent me this pretty fob. It's a beautiful varigated periwinkle color and has my initial on the back. I love it and it was a complete surprise.

Thank you all so much! I still have a few exchange pictures to post but they will have to wait a couple days. I am madly working on fobs for my mom and getting use to having a little part time job :-). I hope everyone is having a good week with lots of stitching time!

An Overflowing Mail Box and Another PIF

My mailbox is overflowing with wonderful birthday presents and exchanges. There is no way to post pictures of all the beautiful bits and pieces I've received all at once. I am going to post them every day or two instead. Today I am posting a picture of my birthday present from my friend Karin. We have know each other a long time, when we both lived in Belgium we spent many a day together stitching, shopping and having fun. She sent me this wonderful pillow along with lots of other gorgeous bits and pieces. My DD, Megan, was laughing at me when I was opening the package, I just kept getting more and more excited, LOL.

I sent out my second PIF a couple weeks ago to another Karin and since she's received it I can post a picture. I made a fob from a BBD freebie, I am definitely on a kick, LOL. I also sent a couple of pretty fat quarters, you can see them in the background, and some Chocolate covered Altoids.

My trip to Oklahoma was great. I had a wonderful birthday with my DH, we went to eat at a local Mexican restuarant, Ted's Cafe Escondido, and saw Ghost Rider. On Sunday we drove to Frederick Oklahoma. My father was stationed at a little radar site there from 1969-1973 and I was in the mood for a bit of nostalgia. It was very tiny, I didn't remember it being quite so small, LOL. It's amazing how the memory of a child is so different. I had to ask my mom how she did it coming from a large city like Oxford to a town that small :-).

I didn't make it to the Silver Needle, it's a bit farther from OKC than I thought and I didn't want to make the drive by myself. I am going again the end of this month and we will drive to Tulsa then. I did make it by two local shops, Heartland Needleworks and Cross Stitch Haven. Both shops were very nice and I managed to add a few things to my stash :-).

My new job is going well, I am pleasantly surprised at how easily the accounting side of me is coming back, LOL. It's very low stress, flexible and fun and everyone is so nice. Woohoo adult conversation. My boss is very happy at how quickly I am learning everything. He's actually going on a cruise with his wife so I will be on my own week after next. I think 12 or so hours a week is perfect for me.

Hope everyone is having a great week :-). I am so appreciative of all the lovely packages I've received, look for updates with more pictures through the next few days!

PIF and other Bits and Pieces...

It's been a busy couple of weeks for us. My DH is traveling back and forth between Oklahoma and home almost every weekend. I will be glad when June is here and he doesn't have to go back and forth anymore. We decided he needed a break from flying here every Friday so I am going there later this week for a few days. I am planning on going to the Silver Needle since I've never been to the shop before. There are also a couple of shops in Oklahoma City that I may go visit while Jeff is at work.

My big news is I took a very part time bookkeeper position at our church. It's 10-16 hours a week, Mondays and Thursdays. I hate to admit it but I was a tiny bit bored being at home so much by myself. I was looking for a way get out of the house a couple days each week for a few hours. I offered to come in as a volunteer so I was pleasantly surprised when they wanted to make it official and pay me. I wasn't expecting it at all, but it's a little pocket money which will be fun and the job very low stress. The ladies that work in the office are all very sweet. I know most of them fairly well since we attend the same church. It will be a nice little interlude each week and it won't interfere with my stitching time :-).

My mom got her BBD Bluebird's Message back from the framer. I think it's beautiful, I love the moulding. It will go on her "wall" :-). I stitched while I was home for my Dad's bypass surgery so it seemed appropriate to leave it there and I am not sure I could have got out of the house with it, LOL. My Dad is doing great, he's going to rehab three times a week and his voice finally returned. I wanted to say thank you again, I so appreciate all the kind thoughts, notes and prayers from everyone.

I also sent my first PIF gift to Heather. It was so much fun doing this piece. I put a quarter next to it for scale. It came out very tiny which I love. The design is from BBD's new Needle and Thread book. I seem to be on a Blackbird Designs kick right now. I just love their pieces.

Hope you all are having a great week with lots of stitching time :-). I am off to work on fobs for my mom. I also need to do a bit of finishing on a couple of exchange gifts. Pictures to come later.

Ramblings and the Retirement

My DH had his retirement ceremony last week and started his new job on Monday. I changed the picture to one of my DH and DS in their uniforms. JD is just starting out and Jeff is finishing. It's funny how life goes full circle. It's a huge transition for us but we have a lot of peace about the decision to retire and we are looking forward to being civilians. I am not crazy about the weekly travels to Oklahoma, but he's home for the weekend which is nice. Fortunately it's only until June. It does give me lots of stitching time during the week, always a good thing. I am going to go visit OKC at least once and make a trip to the Silver Needle while I am there.

I spent this week sorting and stitching. I did finish a couple of things but they are secrets :-). I also kitted up a bunch of projects, the fobs for my mom, 14 in all, and the exchanges and gifts I need to do for the next several months. I thought I'd get those bits and pieces done and then I am going to concentrate on VoHRH and Mary Beale's Advent Sampler. I have a few other small projects kitted and ready to go so I have plenty to keep me busy, LOL.

Hope you all have a great weekend, we are going to relax and rent a couple of movies. Hopefully by Monday or Tuesday I can post pictures of what I've been working on :-).

Everything in Moderation

I've made a decision...the 10-25-50 challenge just isn't for me. I think it's a wonderful idea but I don't function well with an "all or nothing" mindset. I definitely still want to watch what I spend on stitching but there are a few things I'd like to have and I think that's okay :-). So my new philosophy for stash purchases is "everything in moderation". I don't think I am the first person to decide this challenge just isn't for me. I have to keep reminding myself it's okay to change my mind, LOL.

I did actually get a bit of stitching done last month and all things considered I am happy with what I accomplished:

1. Finished Blackbird Designs Bluebird's Message (I am anxiously waiting for the new Loose Feather to come out, should be any day now).

2. Finished Trilogy Cardiology fob for an exchange

3. Finished two Shepherd's Bush 2007 fobs

In March I am going to work on fobs for my mom, exchanges, PIFs and Mary Beale's Advent Sampler. I will have to wait and see if anything else takes my fancy :-).

Big News and a Finish

I finished the Shepherd's Bush Scissor Fob twice. I did a fob for my scissors and a fob for my mom. When I was home and my mom saw the finished Trilogy Heart fob, she did her best to talk me out of it, LOL. She then told me she needed not a couple, not a few, but "LOTS" of fobs for her house :-). Her birthday is in May, I thought it would be fun to send her box with a dozen or so fobs in it. I think if I did one a week or so, most of them would only take a day to stitch and finish, I will have "LOTS" by the time her birthday comes around.

I am happy I have a bit more time on my hands, the fall time frame for our trip suits me a bit better. I have lots more time to prepare for Megan’s graduation, we will have so many visitors for that. And honestly, I am still a bit off of my game with everything that happened with my dad. Speaking of which he went to see the ENT this week, the doctor said it could take several months for his voice to come back. The nerve endings are irritated or damaged. Otherwise he’s doing great! All in all I feel very blessed and I am so thankful for how things have worked out. I said an extra prayer in church this morning :-). Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Belated Valentine Gift

I made this fob as a gift for a Valentine's exchange. I was a tiny bit late getting it mailed but it's finally arrived at it's destination. It's from the Trilogy Cardiology chart. I love this series of designs, they make great fobs.

My DH and I are going to see Breach and then we are having lunch at the Japanese Steak House, yummy! In between I am working on PIF pieces and exchanges. Hope you have all had a nice weekend.

Wonderful Mail Surprise

The day I left to go to my parents I received the most unexpected surprise from my friend Jacque. It's a gorgeous hanging piece, I just love it! It came at the absolute perfect time, I was calling back and forth with my parents and making flight arrangements. It made me smile which I definitely needed :-).

I got home last week, I am back in a routine, such as that is, LOL. My DH has had some very encouraging interviews and hopefully he will choose a position in the next couple of weeks and then he retires, we go to Europe and our DD graduates from high school maybe life will settle down a bit after all that, LOL.

My Dad is doing great, he gets better each day and is feeling very good. His voice is still not back but you can hear tiny improvements. He will see an ENT next week, but his cardiologist said it may take a bit of time since the vocal cords are bruised. I am so thankful he is doing so well and things are getting back to normal for my parents.

I am working on Round Robins, PIFs and exchanges right now. I want to get all those things finished up and mailed this week, well except for the exchanges. I do want those things packed up and ready to go on the appropriate dates :-). I am a bit off the 10-25-50 challenge right now, actually I am rethinking the whole thing, LOL. More on that later...

Have a great weekend! It's a long one for us, my DH is off Monday for the President's day holiday :-). We are planning on seeing a movie, going out to lunch and just generally relaxing.

A Finish and an Update

I've been madly stitching on BBD Bluebird's Message the last couple of days, my mom has a space all picked out for it on her 'wall' :-). I wanted to have it finished before I go home so I am pleased it's done. My dad is doing very well and other than his voice still being gone, he is feeling better every day. I will fly home tomorrow afternoon just in time for the weekend. My family has told me they are ready for me to be home, I think things are a tiny bit crazy there, LOL. The next big thing on the horizon is my DH's retirement from the Air Force in March, then we have a trip to Europe planned, my DD's graduation from high school in May and somewhere in there my DH will start a new position. Generally, life is going to be crazy until the summer time. I am sure stitching will be my sanity. I've decided not to set any goals for February except to do at least one PIF piece and get started on two exchanges for the USEBB group. I am going to stitch on whatever I please other than those few things.

Dad is Home!

We brought my Dad home today! He's doing very well and couldn't wait to get back in his own house. He was dressed and ready to go within 15 minutes of us arriving at the hospital this morning. He actually feels very good since they got all the tubes out of him. Only tiny problem is he's lost his voice, they think his vocal cords are bruised from being intubated for the surgery. Hopefully with a bit of rest and a little time it will come back on it's own. Thank you all again for your thoughts, prayers and emails, they've meant so much. It's been such a blessing for us. I will be heading home on Friday, I think by then my parents should be at the point they can manage without me and my DH and kids have told me they are anxious to have me home :-). I think they've realized how much I do to keep all their lives running smoothly, LOL. This is a cute picture of my parents from last year, they took a trip to Europe.

I have managed to get a bit of stitching done, it's very theraputic when you are sitting in hospitals all day. First I finished up a Valentine exchange piece. Sadly that is going to be late arriving at it's destination :-(. Now I am working on BBD Bluebird's Message. It's very cute and will be staying here when I go home. My mom has assured me there's a spot for it on her wall :-).

Surgery is Over

My dad had a quadruple bypass this morning, he had 8 blockages in 4 arteries. He did very well, the heart started beating as soon as they took him off the pump which is apparently is a very good thing. Today is sort of a lost day for him, probably a blessing :-). He will not be conscious until tomorrow. The doctor let us see him, my mom was very sweet, fixed his hair for him and held his hand. He will be in ICU for the rest of his hospital stay, we hope we can bring him home in 4 or 5 days if he does well. We are home now so my mom can get some rest and we will call every hour or so to check and see how he is doing! Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers!

Dad's Surgery

I got up yesterday morning thinking it was going to be a normal day. My sister called to see if I knew when they were doing my dad's angioplasty, my parents had decided to tell me after it was over so I didn't even know he was getting it done. I live a couple states away and they didn't want to worry me? Not great and they won't be doing that again. My dad had an ECG done a few weeks ago as a part of his pre-op for a knee replacement. It came back funny so he did a stress test, he's had a couple of funny ones but they didn't think it was anything. Monday the cardiologist recommended he have the angioplasty to rule out anything. Long story short he's having a quadruple bypass tomorrow morning. Lots to be thankful for, they discovered it before he had a major heart attack, his heart is otherwise very strong, he has good doctors but it's still very scary. He's only 65 years young and never had any symptoms so this is all very unexpected. Luckily I was able to get very cheap tickets so I flew home yesterday afternoon. I was actually out the door at 2:oo yesterday afternoon. I love this picture of my dad, he was in his early 20's here. Please keep him and my mom in your thoughts and prayers!

Another PIF and Goals

I got a gorgeous beaded scissor fob from Karin in the mail yesterday. The really neat thing is she made the beautiful red and blue heart shaped bead herself. Thank you so much Karin!

I so appreciate all the great advice I got on goal setting from everyone. Karen and Chelle even posted their perspective on organization and setting goals on their blogs :-). I love to "think out loud" and getting so much feedback is wonderful. I am realizing I can be organized and accomplish a lot without being so wrapped up in my daily "to do" list. I've also decided Karen and I must have been separated at birth we are so much alike, LOL. The long and short of it is I am going to have some overall goals. I want to meet my timelines for exchanges and gifts, I love participating in exchanges and stitching gifts. I also want to finish some of my UFOs and I do like having a list of projects I want to work on over the long term. I am just not going to plan quite so much of my day in respect to what I am stitching. I want to leave room to change my mind :-). Speaking of which, the new BBD loose Feather is in my hot little hands and I am going to stitch it as soon as I finish a PIF and an exchange piece I am working on.

DT Sampler Game Board WIP

My DT Sampler Game Board is coming along nicely :-). I had a few missteps, I didn't care for the linen I had originally purchased. The weave was too "loose" so I ended up pitching it, literally, in the trashcan. I pulled out a beautiful cut of 28 count lambswool instead. I also wasn't crazy about a few of thread conversions so I made a couple of substitutions. Now I am happy, happy with my linen and fibers and I am making progress :-). I've set it aside to work on a Valentine exchange and a PIF challenge piece.

I've been thinking about setting stitching goals every month, it's just not really working well for me. I love making lists but then I feel obligated to cross things off. I am a little compulsive about my list, LOL. It's a lot of pressure and sort of takes the fun out of things. For instance, the new BBD loose feathers is winging it's way to my house and I really, really want to start it but technically it's not on my list for this month. What's more it's not on my list of 50, not that I can't make adjustments... :-). I am not sure how to make progress without setting goals, but there's a part of me that just wants to stitch what I want to stitch and see what happens. Maybe I should not be so specific about the which and when and be a bit more general, I'd like to finish two pieces this month and make progress on a couple others or maybe I should just work on what I feel like working on at the moment? I'd be curious to know how tied you all are to your goals, rotations and lists?

My First 2007 Finish

My Bent Creek Spring Snapperland is done! I am thrilled with how it came out. I change the colors in the border, brown flowers aren't my thing, so I did them in WDW Sweetheart Rose and GAST Antique Rose. I also changed the chicken coop section. My grandmother always lived in a house in the country and kept chickens. Some of my fondest childhood memories include staying with her and collecting eggs. Once I found a snake in the coop but that's a whole different story, LOL. I wanted to remember my grandmother, Audie Pearl, by stitching a cute little old lady with a bun and a dress. She was just the sweetest person.

I am on to Drawn Thread Sampler Game Board. I have joined a Stitchalong and I need to stitch four blocks :-). It is suppose to be a very cold weekend, temperatures aren't getting out of teens and we are expecting snow, good excuse to stay home and stitch. We are planning a relaxing weekend in front of the fireplace, lots of movies, games and hot coffees. My DH has been mumbling under his breath about moving to Florida for two days, LOL. I hope everyone has a nice weekend!

A PIF Received

I received the most gorgeous Pay It Forward gift from Cathy, a hardanger fob and doily as well as a very pretty piece of linen and skein of silk. I was thrilled because I've never tried Hardanger and now I have two intricate, beautiful pieces in my collection. I've already put the fob on a pair of scissors I received from Adana at the SB retreat. Thank you so much Cathy, it was such a nice surprise :-). I love opening my mailbox and receiving an unexpected package. I think this PIF challenge was such a great idea and I am so glad I have the chance to participate. Now I need to get busy and start surprising a few ladies myself!

Happy New Year!

I can't believe it is 2007! I love the new year, the possibilities of a fresh start, making resolutions, and for me, a chance to get organized :-). I always make a few promises to myself and most years I manage to keep one or two of them, LOL. My stitching related resolutions are:

1. Continue the 10-25-50 challenge. I've put my 50 pieces on the sidebar of my blog. All I can say is thank goodness for birthday's and Christmas's. I will be asking for stitching stuff. I've allowed myself a few exceptions, the BBD Loose Feathers and hard to find, OOP charts, and limited edition pieces.

2. Stitch every day, I am very blessed to be a homemaker with lots of time to call my own so I should be accomplishing a lot more than I do :-).

3. Finish at least three of my UFO projects, the pieces that come to mind right now are SB The Promise, SB Victorian Sampler and DT An Open Heart.

4.I doubt I will finish it this year but I am going to work on ATS a few times a month. My friend Vicky convinced me to continue stitching it over one and we are going to work on it together twice a month. She's stitching it over one too. To be sure I don't waffle I'm giving the over two start to Vicky's mom, Danya, to stitch.

5. I want to finish at least one ornament each month.

6. I would like to frame at least one or two projects a month. I have several pieces stored away that need to be on my wall.

My goals for Janary are (amended 17 January):

1. Finish block 2 on CHS Village of Hawk Run Hollow.
2. Finish BBD Summer House (over half finished with this one too).
3. Finish Bent Creek Spring Snapperland (I am 2/3 of the way done) (finished 12 January).
4. Work on Frances Burwell (my Christmas start) (I have the first 4 bands finished).
5. Work on Sarah Moon (my New Year start) Worked on her 1 January, that's it).
6. Finish one of my PIF pieces :-), I have four to do, still room for one more!
7. Do two squares a week on DT's Sampler Gameboard, I am participating in a stitchalong with several other ladies, DT Sampler Gameboard Blog (coming along nicely, as of 17 January, I have 6 blocks done and a nice start on the border).
8. Finish Valentine Exchange piece.
9. Work on ATS (worked on it 16 January).

I wish everyone a wonderful, blessed New Year with lots of finishes! I am hopeful as always I will be the person God created me to be, keep at least some of my resolutions and get lots of stitching time :-).

A Few Finishes!

December actually turned out to be a very productive stitching month for me. I stitched my mom's Christmas present, several ornaments and gifts and a couple of scissor fobs for myself.

My mom's "wall" is now graced with CHS's Maria P. Oliver. She did tell me she needs at least three more pieces to complete this display, LOL. She was also drooling over my CHS alphabet piece, I think I may manage to keep that one but only because I am stitching Long Dog Sampler's The Token for my parents 45th wedding anniversary.


I also stitched and finished several ornaments, BBD Blackbird, two La D Da, the cardinal and heart and Brightneedle's No Peeking all for gifts and exchanges:

I did HIHN's Say Your Prayers over one as a fob for my friend's jewelry box. She asked me to do it several months ago. I've put a quarter next to it to show how tiny it is:

Finally, I did two scissor fobs for myself. I stitched With My Needle Eliza's Pyn Pillow for the red Gingher Sophia's. For the pink scissors, I can't remember their name, I did Lizzie Kate Life's a Stitch over one:

I plan to blog a lot more in 2007, time sort of gets away from me, LOL. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year :-).