SUS-E-Qs DESIGNS

Same thing this week....

2012-01-29T12:55:00.003-06:00

as last week and the week before. I again put some stitches in some of my cross stitch projects, but didn't get around to taking a picture of any of them. I am almost finished with the ornament I was working on and the other stitches were in the WIPs of my WIPocalypse list, so I'll take a picture of the progress on those when I post the next full moon.

Today I woke up feeling pretty good and industrious. I've done 3 loads of laundry, vacuumed the carpet, and have all the dishes washed. Since I don't have a dishwasher, that makes me the one who get to wash them and I put that chore off as long as possible(I am so bad). Then I put a beef roast on to cook, baked the 1st layer of an experimental bar cookie, it is a chocolate version of the Payday bar-cookie I make, and cut up some oranges to make a fruit salad. I love cooked carrots, so I am now cooking some in some of the beef broth from the roast and as soon as they get done, I will make some gravy to go with mashed potatoes and have lunch. Everything smells sooooo gooooood. So I'm going to go....

Until next week

May Your Guardian Angel Watch Over You

susieq

VERY LITTLE STITCHING.....

2012-01-15T14:14:00.004-06:00

this week. I picked up a small ornament that I began stitching last year and put a few stitches in it. No pictures, sorry maybe next week it will be done and I'll have a picture. I also bought an e-reader tablet on ebay and have downloaded some books, so during most of my quiet time, I have been reading rather than stitching. I finished 3 "SHELTER BAY" series books by Joann Ross, and several older Harlequin type books that were on sale for .99 cents. My lunch hour has changed also at work, and rather than eating by myself and stitching, I am eating with several co-workers. I don't get much stitching time, since I sit and gab and laugh with them. I will be changing jobs in a few weeks and then I will be by myself again, so the stitching will proceed as normal.

I am looking forward to the job change. 4 years ago I was laid off from a job that I had worked at for 30 years. The family who owned the business decided they wanted to semi-retire and sold the business. The new owner decided to lay me off(needless to say he is not one of my favorite people). At 56 I had to start all over again, and I know I was very lucky to have found a job after just a few months of being unemployed, but I really missed my old job. Now after 4 years and a lot of drama over a non-competition clause in the sale agreement, the original owner has decided to reopen the office, and has asked if I'd like to come back. I said yes and I start on Feb 1st. I will miss some of my present co-workers because they are really a lot of fun, and some of the clients that we deal with, but the job is soooo stressful and I am doing several tasks that I really do not like. So I can't wait to get back HOME.

Well that is what has been happening in my world.

Until next week...

May Your Guardian Angel Watch Over You

susieq

READ SET GO.....

2012-01-08T09:33:00.004-06:00

As I commented in my last post, I have joined the WIPocalypse at Measi's Musings. You will find the link to that page here on my blog and many more blogs that you might visit. It is the one with a dragon to the right. Here is the list of designs that I want to stitch and have the patterns in my stash, but never got around to stitching them for one reason or the other.

1. "CHRISTMASLAND" RAISE THE ROOF
2. "I BELIEVE" MOSEY 'N ME
3. "TIME FOR GOD" LK
4. ALL "INSPIRATIONAL BOXERS" LK 1 COMPLETED 1 3 LEFT TO DO
5. "SAMPLER WINTER" MARIKA BELFIORI
6. "TREE OF STITCHES" ABI GURDEN SAL ON YAHOO GROUP STITCH SPECIALISTS
7. "ONE HUNDRED YEARS" LK
8. "FAMILY MATTERS" HINZEIT
9. "ABC LESSONS" LK
10. "ROMANTIC STITCHER" PASSIONE RICAMO
11. "WINTER BAND SAMPLER" LHN

I also have a couple of designs that I have stitched on, and want to finish.

This one is "Happy Christmas to All" by Bent Creek. I am stitching it on 18 ct aida. I wanted it a certain size and any linen smaller than 32 ct is getting harder for me to see, so I went with the 18 ct aida.

This next one may look familiar to anyone who has followed my blog for awhile. I posted this as one of my WIP I wanted to finish in 2011. I had found 2 things that I had started when I was going through some of my stash in May of 2011. I finished one, but I think I only put a few stitches in this, so it goes on my list this year to complete. It is a Blue Ribbon Design "A Sampler for Merry Pat". I am doing it over 1 on 28ct antique white evenweave.

Well I've got ham and beans cooking in my slow cooker, a list of groceries that I need at the store and a book I'm in the middle of on my e-reader, so I better get off the computer.

Until next week...

May Your Guardian Angel Watch Over You.

susieq

The ending of 2011 & beginning of 2012 and...

2011-12-30T12:38:00.006-06:00

I only had 1 finished WIP for 2011. Next week I will be posting pictures of the projects that I want to do in 2012. I have joined Measi's WIPocalypse . Hopefully this will help me keep up my momentum throughout the year. Some will be WIPs and others will be projects that I really want to stitch and have had for a number of years (1 since 1995). I have been adding to my pile, so next week's blog will be loaded with pictures.

But until then--Here are a couple of little finishes I did for my LNS THE STITCHER'S EXPRESS . They will make them into ornaments to put on the shop's tree for display. These are LK 2011 ornaments that were recently released. The material is 28ct Toasted Almond evenweave, and I stitched them using the called for WDW floss except the light blue around the windows, that was DMC.

I have been off on vacation this past week. My work closed down for the week and I have to go back to work tomorrow. I guess I'm ready to get off the computer and read for awhile and then off to bed so I'll be able to get up early and be ready to start the new year at work.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Until next week...

May Your Guardian Angel Watch Over You

susieq

HO!HO!HO!

2011-12-24T12:18:00.007-06:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!! My Christmas was over last Sunday. These are a few pictures of the star of the day. Gracie. She still isn't quite sure about what is going on, but she enjoyed the animated snowman that I had that sang. She danced with the music. This 1st one is Gracie and I. I do not like to have my picture taken and I was trying to get her to tell her Grampa to go away The next one is just her in her Christmas dress. And the last one is with Gramma Vickie..Vickie had jingle bells on her shirt, so Gracie thought they were pretty great.

I can now show you the ornament that I made for the ornament exchange that we had at my stitch group.Nancy, who follows my blog when she has time, is a member of the stitch group so I couldn't show it until now. I made it by covering 2 button covers that you can get at a fabric store and then glued the covers together. These are great to make something small perfectly round. I made the cording with my handy dandy cording tool(see past post)

I finished stitching my "Merry Christmas" by the New York Dreamer. I do not know if I want to frame it or finish it some other way, but since it is a Christmas design and my Christmas celebrations are over until next year, I think that I have a little time to decide.

Well until the next time...

May Your Guardian Angel Watch Over You.

susieq

Decorations at work

2011-12-10T16:20:00.004-06:00

I'm not decorating too much at home this year, but I did decorate at the office. My Christmas is going to be next Sunday on the 18th, and the only little one is Gracie who is 14 months old and she will not know that I don't have a tree. I will get out some of my animated snowmen that sing and move and she'll like those. She loves music and loves to dance.

Here are some of decorations:

The first is right behind my work station. This is also the window that I have the stockings hung on too. The cross stitch pictures are my Santa's Cookies design, a table runner with design from Zweigart "Christmas Redwork" and 2 Tralala designs.

Remember the wreath hook that I made, well this is what I hung on it. I found this berry wreath at Prairie Gardens/Jeffrey Allen on sale for $5, and the Santa was something I bought many years ago and a home decorating party my neighbor had. I just added a bow and the finished decoration. I found the Christmas trees that are in the 1st picture, these Santa hats and the snowflakes that are in the next picture at WalMart last year after Christmas on sale for .50. They are a cute addition for a little display. I had this little sled, also a buy from WalMart from a couple of years ago on sale and decorated it with some berries.
This one has the snowflakes, and a metal basket with Christmas ball ornaments. The basket was a find from KMart after Christmas several years ago. These are on the counter at the reception desk where my work station is.

I am currently working on this "Merry Christmas" by New York Dreamer. It is going very quickly. I am stitching it on 25 ct Country Mocha and I did change the colors that it called to use. The colors were a brighter red(321) and green(904) and I wanted to use the burgundy(Anchor 45), a darker green(935), and ecru
I also bought from the same designer the "A Tree and a Bell for Christmas"

Since next Sunday is my Christmas with the Family, I don't know when my next post will be, so until then....

May Your Guardian Angel Watch Over You

susieq

I know, I know, I'm sorry Ramona

2011-12-01T20:12:00.004-06:00

I got my friend RAMONA doing a blog, and she pointed out to me that I hadn't posted on MINE for a few weeks, so here you go. By the way check out her blog by clicking on her name above, we worked on it and got a really cute background. Add her to your favorites too.

I have been stitching Secret Santa Gifts for my co-workers. In my last post I had a picture of 1 that I had finished, well I completed them all, and forgot to take pictures of them(Go Figure, me forgetting). I did take my camera to work and managed to sneak pictures of 2 of them though by going into the recipients office while they weren't there and snapping away quickly. This is a LK pattern from 1 of the JCS ornament issues. I substituted a charm for the word that was stitched. It is stitched on white 28ct evenweave over 1, and the cording I made by combining the floss and using my cording machine that resembles the top of a fishing rod. Mine is older and colored red, but this is what I use. If you make cording and do not have something like this, it is a great investment. It is quick and easy, and I would say 1 of my most useful tools. I think it is called a Mini Twister or something like that. I think it runs about $20, but well worth it.

Next is a candle wrap that I stitched. I combined 2 separate designs in this one. The Snowflake is from a LHN and the Snowman is a Sisters and Best Friend. Both are from JCS Ornament issues 2007, and 2011. I used buttons that I had at home that I thought looked cute, and the ribbon that it was stitched on was some I got on a spool at Prairie Gardens/Jeffrey Allens. It was wired on the edges to make bows out of, but when I found it and a few other colors, I thought hey I could stitch on that. The squares are not perfectly square, they are more of a rectangle, but it still works fine. The wire comes out very easily if you don't want to leave it in, too.

Lastly, this is an oldie. It was something I designed a few years back and gave away as a free pattern in the my FAVORITE LNS The Stitcher's Express. I stitched it on navy blue 10 ct Heatherfield. Bobby and I were trying to think of the name of the frame company that made the frame. They are now out of business and have been for several years, but they made frames in different shapes like this manger frame.

If anyone can think of the name, please comment, so it doesn't drive me crazy. I do not like trying to think of something that is right there on the fringes, but just won't pop into my brain.

I am currently stitching an ornament for my stitch group exchange, but since some of the members read my blog I cannot post a picture of the WIP. This plus the fact that I am winging it and designing as I stitch and sometimes I stitch something then have to take it out because it doesn't work. Maybe it would be better if I got some graph paper and designed it that way. Probably, but why do it the easy way LOL.

Well better go see what kind of mischief I can get into now, so until the next time, which may not be next week Ramona.....

May Your Guardian Angel Watch Over You

susieq

Not much going on

2011-11-13T10:48:00.003-06:00

`Went to stitch group last Tuesday and had a very good time. A little stitching, but a lot of laughter and good good friends. Yesterday a couple of friends, Ramona, and Bobby and I went to a nearby town to a craft show. This craft show at one time was huge, but like everything else I guess the economy has hit it too, and it just didn't seem as large as last years and last years was smaller than the year before, and it seemed like it was the same stuff. It is kind of sad. I didn't have a lot to spend, and I had no problem not spending it. Since it was held at a mall I did a little shopping otherwise and found 2 sweaters on sale. Since they were summer weight and short sleeved they were on the clearance rack. They had been $49.50 @ and marked down to $12.99 @. I plan to wear them with long sleeved tops underneath this winter. When I told one of my friends about my bargain, she headed to the rack too and found some of her own bargains. We both left the store happy. YAHOO!!!!!

I haven't done a lot of stitching this week that I will show you, but I did finish one of the ornaments. It is a LK "First Christmas" I stitched it on antique white evenweave material over 1 and mounted it on a Mill Hill Medium Heart Creative Charm button that I got 1/2 at my LNS a long time ago. I don't know if you can get them anymore, but they sure make it easier to do a small heart shaped ornament.

Until next week

May Your Guardian Angel Watch Over You
susieq

THANK YOU!

2011-11-11T13:20:00.005-06:00

MY DAD

FALL BACK

2011-11-06T09:58:00.010-06:00

I did a little stitching on one of my ornament orders for work this week. I chose the LK 1st Christmas Snippet for that one, and had fun looking through all my JCS ornament issues to find an ornament for a golfer. There was one with a Santa playing golf, so I'm going to do that one. For the nurse, I can't find one in my chart books so I guess I'll have to design something.

I also put a few stitches into this new Tralala that I am working on.
This is what it will look like when I get a chance to finish it. I may even finish it just this way into a no sew cube.

I got my frame in for my Christmas Cookies design so that is stretched and framed ready to either hang or put on an easel to set beside a plate of -you guessed right- Cookies at Christmas.LOL

The only other things that I finished this week were 2 books. I have had
Julie Garwood "Ideal Man" on order from my library for several weeks and a copy became available, and then while at Walmart the other day they had the new Nora Roberts book "The Next Always" in, so I picked up a copy of that and just finished it yesterday morning. Both were good books and if you like romance with maybe a little drama mixed in, I recommend either one of these authors. I have the JD Robb(Nora Roberts) book from the library also to read by Thursday. I've read a little of it, but I need to stitch for awhile and get these ornaments finished.

Until the next time

May Your Guardian Angel Watch Over You

susieq

Oops...

2011-10-29T07:28:00.005-05:00

sorry I missed last weeks update. I finished my design piece that I was working on. I've stretched it but I haven't gotten the frame in yet, but it is ordered. Here is a picture of it so far. I will post a picture of it completely finished, probably next week. I think it turned out cute, and to think it all started with a $1.99 little package of miniature cookie cutter embellishments.

We drew names for our Secret Santa at work, and I offered to make something small(bookmark, ornament) for anyone wanting to leave a sneaky secret Santa gift on their recipient's desk. So far I have 3 requests, 1 for a 1st Christmas, 1 for a golfer, and 1 for a nurse. I also have to do 2 little mini stockings with the names of our 2 new employees.This picture was taken last year of the ones I stitched. I am getting ideas for the one whose name I drew, too. Not only the sneaky Santa gifts, but also the main Christmas gift.

I think I'll go make a pot of coffee and stitch awhile, and the Boss is wanting me to go into the recliner so he can snuggle on my lap and take a nap. He keeps coming in here and talking to me, and he is getting angrier each time because I am not doing what he wants me to.LOL

Until next week

May Your Guardian Angel Watch Over You

susieq

Short Sunday Update

2011-10-15T22:14:00.010-05:00

No finishes this week but do have a few pictures to share. These are of Gracie, I know again(sigh). She is growing too fast. I love her hairdo in the
1st one. I had to share the 2nd one too. This is her and her Daddy Josh(my nephew). What do you think, Are they related???LOL I asked who won the battle of wills. He said right after this was taken, she smacked him then hugged him, so I'm not quite sure who won.

I haven't done too much stitching this week, so this is all that I have done on my WIP from last week.

I had my camera out the other day and THE BOSS jumped up onto the arm of my chair so I figured he wanted his picture taken. This is kind of blurry and big, but here he is saying hi to everyone.

Camp Gotta Stitch was this weekend. I have never gone to retreat, because I sometimes design some of projects for it, but I always work at the shop on Saturday, so I get to see all of retreaters, when they come in and shop. It is a fun relaxing weekend for everyone. I hope that the LNS, The Stitcher's Express, continues for many years to come. Here is a link to their blog check it out.THE STITCHER'S EXPRESS

Until next week

May Your Guardian Angel Watch Over You

susieq

In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue

2011-10-09T10:27:00.008-05:00

Of course Columbus did get off course and didn't get to North America according to the historians. I wasn't there so I'll have to take their word for it. But still it is a national holiday for the government, post office, banks, and ME!!. I decided to extend that time off and took the last 3 days of last week off too. I've gotten some stitching in, helped a friend set up a new blog, did some designing, finishing of my completed stitching, reading and playing on the computer. In other words just relaxed.

Last week I showed off some of my Blackbird "Casting a Spell" WIP. I finished as much as I wanted. I got some foam core and stretched and laced the pieces and put them into the box that I got at "Hobby Lobby" & that I had painted black. Here is the result.
I stitched the pieces on 35 ct 18th Century Rook by R & R using the called for floss. It's a good thing that I have a LNS that uses some of the things that I stitch and complete, because I don't really decorate that much in my house but I've always been a crafty person and I need an outlet for my creations.

Since I worked on a dark colored 35ct, I needed to give my eyes a rest and chose to go just the opposite and picked 14ct white opalescent aida to do the next project. This is my design, and so far I am using Threadworx #1085. It is a Christmas design that I hope to have finished in a few days. I'll show it next week, but until then here is the start of it. I plan on using some embellishments that I found at Hobby Lobby, of course, to do some finishing touches to it.

I wonder if I write to Hobby Lobby and mention that they get a lot of free advertising from me in my blog, they'll put me on their public relations/advertising payroll. LOL

well until next week..

May Your Guardian Angel Watch Over You

susieq

Just a quick post

2011-10-05T17:09:00.004-05:00

I have the next few days off from work and I spent the 1st day at my FAVORITE LNS The Stitcher's Express. Two of my bestest friends own the shop and so I really like spending time there. Anyway, Ramona and I spent part of the time setting up a blog for them. It still is in the beginning stages, but she'll play with it. Here is the link, STITCHER'S EXPRESS BLOG.

Until next time

May Your Guardian Angel Watch Over You.

susieq

Sunday Update

2011-10-02T08:48:00.009-05:00

Today is a cool, brisk Fall day with a blue sky shining above. I really like Fall, I have to say it is one of my favorite seasons. I like the cool temps, the colors and the crispness about it, and knowing that Winter is around the corner. Summer is probably my least favorite followed by Spring. There are things in each season that I'm not fond of though. So enough about the weather.

Without further ado.........

My finishes and a WIP from this past week to show and tell.

Remember from last week this stitch finish

Well it is now a complete finish. I fringed it and glued it on one of the small wooden plaques that I got at Hobby Lobby.

Next is another that I mounted in a small metal piece I also got at Hobby Lobby(I LOVE that store). It is stitched on Lugana mushroom/gold over 2.

I found some really cute cookie cutter looking embellishments at "TA DA" Hobby Lobby that I had to get, and then went about designing something to use them for. I designed 2 patterns, I've only 1 stitched so far. I made it into a tag to go on a Christmas gift for some lucky person.

Now my WIP. It is a Blackbird Design "Casting a Spell"I don't have much done, but hope to have it completed by next weekend. I bought the wooden box at guess where LOL"HOBBY LOBBY" and spray painted it yesterday. So it is ready to go as soon as the stitching gets done.

So much for Show and Tell,

Until next week

May your Guardian Angel Watch Over You

susieq

I may be the only one....

2011-09-25T11:52:00.005-05:00

who loves a cloudy, rainy day on a day off, when all I have planned is to stay at home. It's very relaxing to me. I find I feel very creative on that kind of day. I get in my kitchen and bake & cook, or I sit in my chair and stitch. And I really LOVE naps on this kind of day and do not ever hesitate taking one.

I just finished stitching a LK Tiny Tidings XVI this morning. This is the 3rd one I've stitched this week from this chart collection. I'm only going to show you 1 today, the other 2 were shop models for my LNS and I'll get pics of those at a future date, because I took them to the shop already. This one is going to be mounted on something I got at Hobby Lobby. It's stitched 1 over 1 on white 28ct Monaco fabric, using the called for flosses. I love over 1 on Monaco fabric. It's an evenweave that's stiffer than either lugana or jobelan because it is cotton fabric, so to me it's easier to do over 1 thread stitching.

OH!!!!! If I had a little light bulb to insert here I would. An idea just hit me concerning something else I got at Hobby Lobby. So off I go to create. To be continued later..........

May Your Guardian Angel Watch Over You

susieq

Full Week.....

2011-09-16T07:08:00.007-05:00

and I'm ready for some down time. Friday the 16th was my Great Niece's 1st birthday. Since her Mama was going to be busy racing this weekend, they had her party Weds night. Of course she got her own little cake and was allowed to dig into it with both hands and get as much cake on herself. Here is the picture of her clapping along with the rest of us.

It's also been a full week of stitching stuff too.

There was a Celebration of Needlework held at the Embassey Suites Hotel in St. Charles MO this weekend. This is the 1st time it's been held this close too where I am, it is about 2 1/2 hours away. I debated with myself back and forth about going. I do not like to drive in big city traffic, especially when I'm not sure of my directions and exits. One of my friends called me up Friday evening and asked me if I'd like to go Saturday. Earlier in the week she had said she didn't think she'd go, but she changed her mind. I got up early, 5am on SATURDAY, and off we went around 7. There were about 20cross stitch shops there and several designers-Hinzeit, Kay's Frames, Jeannette Douglas, Rosewood Manor, Just Another Button Co., Susan Greening Davis. I had just paid some of my bills, so I didn't have a lot to spend, but there were so many pretties to look and drool over. I bought some Danish Flower Thread that I'm going to use for a special project I'm going to be starting soon, some Candy Corn Fabric from Dove Stitches, a January Checkbk Cover pattern by Drawn Thread, Joyful Christmas from Hinzeit, and a Mill Hill kit. I had so much fun and hope they were a success and have it there many years to come.

This week I also finished several of my other projects, 1 Halloween, 1 WIP and 1 Christmas Ornament.

This is one of the frames I bought at Hobby Lobby. I thought just a pumpkin face would look cute in it. Then I put black cording that I made from 310 floss around the edge of it. I think it turned out nice, and was a quick finish.

The is no longer a WIP it is now officially my completed "Box Of Stitches". I finished this one and mounted it in a Sudberry Box that I had gotten a few years ago at 50% off from a LNS that was closing. What do you think?

And last is a Christmas ornament I made. This I mounted in 1 of the little metal pieces I got from Hobby Lobby the same time that I got the pumpkin frame. Part of this design is from this years LK Tiny Tidings. I just added the snowflakes. This was a quick stitch, in fact the longest part of this was the lacing up the back. LOL

Well until next week..

May Your Guardian Angel Watch Over You.

susieq

I REMEMBER

2011-09-11T09:25:00.006-05:00

like so many of us, where I was when I heard the news, and the disbelief that it was happening. I REMEMBER wanting to connect with my loved ones and tell them I Love Them because it drove home to me that you never know from moment to moment if that may be the last words spoken between us. Yet on this anniversary I also know that we as Americans have the resiliency and the courage to pick ourselves up and go on with our lives with the attitude that whoever threatens us may knock us down, but never out. I am having a moment of silence and prayer for those who lost their lives that day and their loved ones.

May Your Guardian Angel Watch Over You

Sunday Update

2011-09-04T15:22:00.004-05:00

I found my WIPS and have been working on my Drawn Thread "Box of Stitches". It has been a fun stitch project so far. The floss has gotten separated from everything else so I had to gather that again, but had no problem with that, Here is the before (May 2011) and my progress so far. The picture is very deceiving I think, because the design is only 52 stitches by 52 stitches, so the design is apprx 4 X 4 inches and it looks bigger in the pictures.

I went to a co-worker's wedding yesterday. I got the directions to the church from another co-worker who was also going(it was in another town). Wellll the directions I was given were to the wrong church. I left home in plenty of time but by the time I did a little searching on my own thinking that I just made the wrong turn, then asking someone standing on the street directions, only to be given directions again to another wrong church, and finally finding a gas station and getting the correct directions, I made the wedding just in time. I arrived right after the Mother of the Bride walked in and before the bridesmaids lined up to walk in. Whew! LOL

Today I am doing some of the usual things, and also decided to list some of my charts onto EBAY. If you'd like to check out what I've got listed you can go to my lists and view them, maybe you will find something you have been looking for, some are OOP Prairie Schooler's. SUSIE'S EBAY LISTINGS

Think I'll go put some stitches in my Box of Stitches, while I wait for my laundry to get finished.

So until next week

May Your Guardian Angel Watch Over You.

Susieq

No finishes this week

2011-08-27T17:21:00.005-05:00

Have you ever put something away so you could work on it later, but then couldn't find it when that later came to be??? I wanted to get my Drawn Thread or Blue Ribbon WIPS out yesterday, but I had put them away where I could find them and then they weren't there. Maybe it's my age, but I had organized some of my needlework projects that I have kitted up and put them in a case, and I guess I thought it was a good idea at the time to put my WIPS in there too, I just forgot that part. I spent quite a lot of time going through this drawer and that plastic tub looking for those 2 WIPS. I'd say I just wasted my time, but I did clean out and straightened a few things as I went. If I had been able to put my hands on them immediately, I probably wouldn't have done too much drawer cleaning, and pitching. Anyway, after finding them I had such a mess of clutter around me that I had to straighten up, so no stitching was done.

Until next time

May Your Guardian Angel Watch Over You

susieq

Fabric, Fabric and more Fabric

2011-08-20T22:44:00.012-05:00

I LOVE FABRIC, ANY KIND OF FABRIC. Yesterday I went back to a nearby town(Shelbyville) to a very nice quilt shop that I was introduced to a few Saturdays ago. Now I don't sew or quilt, so I buy fat quarters mainly and use them as backing for ornaments, flat folds, and no sew cubes, but I love just looking at all the different choices, and letting my creativity flow. Well when I was there the last time I got 4 different fat qtrs,and yesterday I got more. I plan to coordinate them with some stitching projects.Disregard the black spot on the side of this next stash picture, It is just "The Boss" aka Jasper. He always has to OK anything new that comes into the house to make sure it is OK. I just wish he would do it BEFORE I click the button on the camera. Oh well everyone has to have something to complain about their bosses, don't they. :-)
I finished stitching 3 of my WIPS that I have had pictures of in my past few posts. The first 2 are the finishes of my LK WIPS from the Inspirational Series she has now. I have the smaller one framed in a small round frame that I have had for years. I got it along with a few others in a variety of shapes from a Ben Franklin store that closed probably 20(+) years ago. You never know when you might use a small frame and especially different shaped frames. I stitched these on Lugana 1 over 1 using some overdyed floss and some DMC.

This next one you might recognise from last week's picture of the stash that I bought at Hobby Lobby. It goes over your door and you hang a wreath on it. The "I Believe" is a free chart that The Thread Gatherer had with a floss pack of several Christmas colored flosses. You bought the floss and got the chart as a bonus. I haven't stitched anything with the flosses yet, but maybe someday.

When I got back into town from my visit to the quilt shop, I stopped at The Stitcher's Express my LNS and picked up some of the new LK charts & some material(the cross stitch kind). I got a couple of pieces of material for Halloween projects, the new "Tiny Tidings XVI" and the next Inspirational. I am still trying to decide if I want the LK "6 Fat Men" series. I'll probably end up getting them, but decided not yet, and I didn't get the embellishment pack for the Tiny Tidings because I will probably be stitching these 1 over 1 and the buttons, etc won't fit then. Here is one of the pieces of material. I already stitched a small witch's shoe one it. As you can see it is tiny, so it was a very quick stitching project. I think it took me longer to find a tiny black button in my stash to use as the body of the spider, than it did to stitch the shoe. LOL

A few posts ago I had a picture of a birth announcement I had stitched that I was just waiting for the baby to get here so I could complete it. Well the baby arrived and I had an opportunity to get the announcement finished, framed and delivered in a short amount of time. So in my rush I didn't get a picture, so I am apologizing because I did write that I'd post one.

Until next time..

May your Guardian Angel Watch Over You

Mixed Bag Post

2011-08-14T09:59:00.005-05:00

I went to Hobby Lobby the other day and of course I cannot leave the store without buying SOMETHING in way of STASH. Well they had Christmas merchandise out on the shelves, and my creative muses came forth. Here are some of the things that I bought. Hopefully in future posts you will see what ideas I came up with to use all of these things. I got the little frame at Prairie Gardens/Jeffrey Allens. I couldn't resist it, the little emblem reminded me of a Brittercup Cat. Don't you think so??

Whenever I get invited to a wedding, I try to figure out something to do with the wedding invitation. Sometimes I mat & frame the invitation, sometimes I cross stitch a pretty border and mount the invitation within the border and then frame. This invitation is from one of my co-workers. She put it together herself using scrapbook card stock. It was a very simple design, but very pretty, so I took it apart and put it back together this way so the entire invitation would show and framed it into a shadow box. She can take the back off of the frame if she wants to put a small memento from the wedding in it. These make unique presents and something they won't get 2 of and be able to treasure their entire life. I know that the written details are a little blurry, but you can still see the overall effect.

Some of you may know that for 10 1/2 years, I was a part owner of the LNS-- The Stitcher's Express-- with my 2 friends, Ramona and Bobby. We had a rule that whenever any of the display models was retired, the one who stitched it would get it back. Well even though I sold my share of the LNS back to my friends several years ago, the rule still applies. These 2 are a couple of things that I stitched and just got back from the shop. The 1st one is a "Listen Honey". I think that it fits in today's economy "Listen Honey..I've got enough money to last me the rest of my life...Unless I want to buy something".

This 2nd one is a Hobb Nobb. I love snowmen, and I finished it into a no-sew block.

This one is a WIP, that I started yesterday. It is a freebie pattern "I Believe" that I got from The Thread Gatherer.
The free pattern came with a Limited Edition 2008"I Believe" Silk 'n Colors thread pack.

Until next week

May You Guardian Angel Watch Over You

Here's to Sue

2011-08-07T11:25:00.014-05:00

2 weeks ago a Good Friend and Stitching Sister of both NANCY'S and mine died of cancer, and yesterday at her memorial service I said goodbye.

Let me say Sue Kersey most always had a smile on her face and a wicked bawdy sense of humor. She had a heart of gold and was right there for you giving of her time and talents, which were many. One of her requests her husband told us was that she wanted her stitching Sisters to come to her house one stitch group evening and go through all of her framed cross stitch pieces and take whatever we wanted. She wanted us to do this because she felt we would understand best, the time and talent each piece was worth. Sue believed if she stitched it, she was going to finish it someway, framed most generally, and display it in her house somewhere. Consequently every surface in her house, wall or shelf, had some cross stitch on it. Over 200 framed pieces. So the group went out to dinner last Tuesday, then went by the house, where we began the tearful task of looking at all of the beautiful stitching and choosing pieces for a reminder. Here are the things that I took and why.

This piece reminds me of Sue. She loved birds and flowers, & sometimes cursed the weeds

I don't do it as much as I used to, but I have designed cross stitch patterns in the past and sold them at our LNS The Stitcher's Express in Mattoon IL. Sue bought a couple of the designs and stitched & framed them, so these 2 are my designs that she stitched.

This next one is a special Little House Needleworks design. It was designed for Breast Cancer Awareness and the proceeds went towards that worthy charity. Even though Sue's cancer was Colon and spread to her liver, she LOVED LHN and CCN, & I felt this was how she lived the last few years with her disease.

This last one was also LHN "The Stitcher's Prayer". I stitched this one in 2005, in fact I stitched several of them, and gave them to each one of my co-workers at the LNS. I stitched the little house, and printed the prayer that was written by Diane Williams.

Even though I have finishes that I could show, today I wanted to dedicate to Sue and her stitching. I think that it was when the year 2000 was rolling around that she decided to pack up a little case with several projects all kitted up in it. In case the world was all screwed up, and we had to leave our homes in a hurry, she would have an emergency cross stitch case ready to go with her. I'd like to think that Heaven has everything a stitcher could dream about right there at your finger tips but if not Sue would have found a way to take it with her.

So I'll raise a cup and say farewell. Thank you for blessing me with your friendship, smiles and Love. You will be missed.

Until next week,
May Your Guardian Angel Watch Over You

Skipped a week

2011-07-24T10:19:00.003-05:00

I don't know about all of you, but it's too blame hot for me. I haven't wanted to do anything it seems, and I need to get some things done. It's kind of overcast today so maybe that means we'll see some rain. I know that my nephew, and also a fellow blogger JOYCE live in Texas and really need rain more than I do here, but it would still be a welcomed relief no matter where it falls. Let's pray and also keep our fingers crossed.

Now to the pictures. I haven't taken any pics of my recent finishes lately, even though I have some finishes. One of the finishes that I haven't got framed yet is the baby announcement I showed a picture of a couple of posts ago. My cousin became a Grandma for the 3rd time and I finished the cross stitch with the info. When I get the frame I'll post a picture. But this got me thinking of all the birth announcements that I have stitched over the years. Most of them I didn't get a picture of, but some I did, so the stitching pics today are from the past.

Now some pictures of my family. This week in Mattoon(my hometown) we had the Bagelfest. What's a Bagelfest you ask? Well, Mattoon has a Lender Bagel factory, and several years ago it started a bagel breakfast and activities 1 weekend in July. This grew to a 4-5 day event, with carnival rides, fair type food vendors, beauty contests and entertainment. Last night Travis Tritt was the featured singer. My Great Niece Gracie was in one of the beauty contests, and was named 1 of the Princesses, because she collected the most donations to a charity that was chosen by the radio station which was sponsoring the contest, St Judes. She was in the parade on a float.

Taken at the contest

Taken at the parade

This one is of Gracie and me after the contest. She was giving me kisses, but typical kid fashion when the camera is handy and ready to capture the moment, we couldn't get her to do it, but the minute we put the camera down I got another kiss.

And I can't close without a picture of my Great Niece Morgan, who lives in Texas. She recently went to camp and learned to ride a horse. She looks like she had a lot of fun and maybe she'll enjoy riding

Until next week

May Your Guardian Angel Watch Over You

Blogversary at Gabi's

2011-07-20T21:48:00.001-05:00

Gabi is having a Blogversary giveaway go check it out. Lady of the Floss

POST FOR THIS WEEK

2011-07-10T17:14:00.004-05:00

I haven't been stitching too much, work has been very hectic so when I get home I'm pooped and don't want to do anything but sleep, which is exactly what I did. I did do a little though. These are WIPS of the 2 designs of the new LK Inspirational Boxer "I Know God". I really like all 3 of these boxers and am looking forward to stitching the other 2 when they come out. I'm sorry the pictures are blurry, but I think you can see what they'll look like. I am stitching them 1 over 1 on Charles Craft Monaco color Tea. It is a cotton 28ct evenweave and a little stiffer than lugana so it is easier to work over 1 for me.

Until next week
May Your Guardian Angel Watch Over You.

susieq

Almost the 4th

2011-07-02T23:33:00.007-05:00

Last post wasn't very newsy, so hopefully this will be better. This week at work was a little hectic. Our fiscal year goes from July 1 to June 30 instead of Jan-Dec, so Wednesday we had a mandatory all employee New Year's Party at lunch. It was nice and one of our co-workers who has been fighting cancer was able to be there, which was great to see her. They gave the cross stitch picture I did to the "NO DRAMA" employee and she loved it. She put it on her desk and thanked me several different times. It makes the time spent stitching worth it. Maybe sometime I'll bring my camera and get that picture.

I managed to stitch LK's "Wine a Bit" on 25ct dirty linen 1 over 1. I used the floss that it called for the most part, but when you do it over 1 it doesn't really show the variation too much. I had this 2 1/2" X 3 1/2" small frame that I got for a $1. It is marked up a little which makes it look older, and I think if works pretty well. What do you think?

I also finished,(as much as I can until the baby comes) a baby announcement for my cousin's grandson who is due to arrive the end of July. These are what the curtains for the nursery will look like, so I hope what I am stitching will fit the decor.

I decided to stitch LK "It's a Boy Thing" chart "Thank Heaven for Little Boys". I changed the colors of the rows under the wording to look like the curtains, at least I tried.

Jasper the Boss just jumped up on my chair wanting to be fed so I'll go.

Enjoy your 4th of July!!!

Until next time
May Your Guardian Angel Watch Over You

I got up, went to work etc etc......

2011-06-25T21:47:00.007-05:00

When I start each post I always think of when my brother was in the service and overseas many years ago. Mom would write him everyday and most of those letters were basically the same, "She got up, she went to work, got home, fixed supper, watched TV, then went to bed". Nothing much happened to write about then or now. So this will be a short update.

My nephew's wife has started to make hair accessories. They are cute and seem popular with the young mothers especially for their little princesses. Here is a link that takes you to her facebook page. BOOS BOWS . All of the money from the sales are going in the bank for her daughter who is my great niece Gracie's college education. So if any of you are blessed with a precious princess in your life, you might consider something from Boos Bows.

I have been working on a birth announcement this week, but haven't gotten too much on it. When I get it finished up to the info, I will post it.

so until next time
May Your Guardian Angel Watch Over You

This date 6/19 in 1993

2011-06-18T18:28:00.007-05:00

my Dad passed away. Sometimes it feels like it was only a short time ago and others if feels like he has been gone forever. I was a Daddy's girl, we were so alike in many ways, some good but some not so. We would butt heads a lot because both of us were always right and neither one of us wanted to back down LOL, which made some intense moments. He left school after 8th grade, which then was about the equivalent of a high school education, and went to work. He was one of the smartest people I know and could remember almost anything he read, which was 2 newspapers daily. This picture was taken sometime in the early 1940's during WWII when he served his country in the 3rd Armor Division. Handsome guy. Happy Father's Day Papa.

I finished my "Snow Man" by Tralala. I stitched it on 28ct Cashel Vintage Country Mocha. The same material I used on the last Tralala I did. I don't know how I'm going to finish these, but I've got another one to do that features a Santa Claus. They are easy patterns to follow and I really like the designer.

May your Guardian Angel Watch Over You

Nothing for last Sunday..

2011-06-10T10:01:00.003-05:00

and I will be busy this Sunday, so here is my update on Friday.

Last Sunday I had just started what I am currently working on right now so I didn't want to post a picture of just a few stitches. This Sunday my SIL's parents are celebrating their 60th Wedding Anniversary at their church in Springfield IL, which is about 100 miles from where I live. I will be going, and that will mean about 3 hours on the road total driving time and whatever time I spend with them, so no getting on the computer too much.

I went to see CATS at The Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan IL, Weds evening. I had never seen CATS before. It was an interesting play and the cast were good singers and great dancers, so we had a good time. I really do not know why it was such a long running show on Broadway. I have seen many different plays and some of them IMHO were far better with better music, dancing and story, but I'm glad that I got to see it.

I am taking a couple of days off this week (yesterday & today) from work. Yesterday I stitched quite a bit, and today is a day of getting a little done around the house and stitching. I am really enjoying working on what I started last Sunday. It is "Snow Man" by Tralala.

and here is what I've stitched so far

I hope to get either the snowman finished today or the star at the top.

Well I'd better go do some laundry(yuck).

Until next week
May Your Guardian Angel Watch Over You

susieq

Day Late....

2011-05-30T16:45:00.004-05:00

I usually try to post on Sunday, but yesterday my cousin and I "Visited the Family". This is what we affectionately call going to the cemeteries and decorating the graves of our family members who are no longer with us. Peg's and my generation are now the older generation, so if our family members are being honored with flowers, it is up to us now. I can remember going with my Mom and Dad, and when I was younger going with my Grandma. It made me feel grown up to get water at one of the hand pumps and help. Now I don't like being the older generation, and have most of my family is gone. I miss them very much.

I haven't cross stitch too much this week. I have been working on a special project for my boss. She came to me a couple of weeks ago and asked if I could cross stitch something for her to give a co-worker at our annual New Year's Party on June 29th (Our fiscal yr runs from July 1-June 30th). It seems that this co worker is always saying to the clients "NO DRAMA" I want 'NO DRAMA". So I charted out a pattern and stitched it with NO DRAMA on it and a few other things. It turned out OK. I used black and red floss, and stitched it on white 25ct lugana. I didn't get a picture of it, and it is too late now.

The onoy picture I can put on here is a picture of my Great Niece Gracie. This picture was taken by STEW'S PHOTOGRAPHY

Til Next Week
May Your Guardian Angel Watch Over You

Skipped last Sunday..

2011-05-22T10:34:00.003-05:00

my Great Niece Gracie Dedication was happening at church. We had dinner out and visited with family, so no blogging. Gracie is such a sweet happy baby, during the Dedication she just looked around and smiled at several people.

On May 14th, my nephew's birthday, I drew JOYCE'S name as the winner of my birthday giveaway. Congratulations Joyce. Happy Stitching.

I finished stitching Gracie's name onto my SIL Grandma pillow and didn't have any problems matching the floss. I had used pearle cotton and since I don't use that very much, I still had what I had used before. I bought a new pillow form and it is nice and puffed up now.

I also finished one of the new designs from Tra La La that I liked. I think it is so cute, and it was a fast, simple stitch. I haven't quite thought about how I'm going to finish it, but I'm leaning towards doing a no sew block.

Until next time
May Your Guardian Angel Watch Over You

2011-05-08T21:16:00.003-05:00

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, MOM! I MISS YOU AND I LOVE YOU.

9/18/1921 - 1/17/2000

What I Did on My Week's Vacation by Susie Wilson

2011-05-01T12:41:00.008-05:00

I stitched maybe 50 stitches the entire time I was off, and I had a new book that I was going to read, but didn't even open. I mostly just played on the computer, watched the wedding, shopped a couple of days, and visited with some friends. Yesterday I went to see my Niece-in-law Kassie and my Great Niece Gracie. I haven't seen Gracie since right before Christmas, and she is now 7 months old. At that age they change so quickly, and do new things constantly. At Christmas she wasn't even turning over by herself and now she is crawling and pulling herself up to stand at the furniture. I also went through some plastic tubs that I have things stored. I got out some summer clothes, and went through some winter ones. I had different stacks all around me.
1-winter keepers
2-summer keepers
3-summer and winter goodwill
4-Throw away not worth anything else
5-Crafts of various kinds

I haven't gotten through all of the tubs, so who knows what I have in them. I had several moments of "So that's where that was" or "I have been looking for that for months", or "What possessed me to buy that?"

A couple of "Aha!" moments were when I discovered in a small tub some crafts and 2 WIPs that I now remember stashing away to de-cluttered my spare bed for company last September. This one has the new 50 stitches.

It by Blue Ribbon Designs "A SAMPLER FOR MERRY PAT"

And the one is a Drawn Thread "Boxes of Stitches"

Since I didn't write down the fabric I was stitching them on I can only guess. The Blue Ribbon is done 1 over 1 on 28ct Ant. White Jobelan, and the Drawn Thread looks like 32ct ivory or cream linen. I labeled them in WIP 2010-2011 in my Flicker photo album, and we will look back at the end of this year to see if I have to edit that to 2010-?????.

I also received some stash that I ordered from The ThreadBasket I found this website when I was trying to locate someone in the states that sold Tralala Designs that I thought were cute. I have seen so many different french designs on other blogs that I like, and this website has fast service and shipping. The address is Longmont CO, and I pay through my PayPal account. I order from my LNS whenever possible, but I do not want them to special order something from overseas just for me. The shipping alone would be too steep I think, and the patterns aren't cheap to begin with.

Here is what I got..

This picture was the 2nd one that I took of my recent stash purchase, this next one was the 1st one. I have labeled it in my photos as "THE BOSS" approving purchases

Jasper is always wanting to check things out. He helped me a lot while going through my plastic tubs.

A few years ago I cross stitched a pillow for my SIL Vicki. At that time my Bro and her only had 3 grandchildren. So when I was there last week I brought home the pillow to add Gracie's name and birth year to the pillow. Here is what it looks likes now, and I am going to work on it this week, so that it will be finished when they come here for Gracie's dedication at church on May 15th.

I now have the challenge of finding the color I used for Morgan's name. I'll probably have to settle for as close as possible.

If you haven't already, check out my Birthday message blog, and comment for the giveaway. Who knows I may even throw in a birthday surprise.

Till next week.
May your Guardian Angel watch over you.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

2011-04-26T18:12:00.004-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEEEEEeeee, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME. 60 yes 60 years ago on April 26, 1951 around 2:00 pm I was born. So today I celebrate. I got up without the alarm clock, and the Cat boss didn't even come bug me until I was awake, and bummed around a little bit at home. I am taking this entire week off work so I can do that Ha! Anyway I decided today was the day that I was going to run away from home. I got dressed and went to Champaign/Urbana. I treated myself to a loaded Butter Burger and fries at Culvers, and then proceeded to shop. It poured down rain and even with my umbrella I got soaked, but that could not dampen my birthday mood. I then stopped in Tuscola at the outlet mall, and indulged myself with some fancy caramel apples from ROCKY MT. CHOCOLATE FACTORY . My favorite is the Apple Pie Apple, but let's face it, they are all good, and I really couldn't decide, so I bought 4. 2 of the Apple Pie and 2 other different ones. I had them cut 1 Apple Pie one, so I stopped at the shop when I got back in Mattoon and shared. By the way I am now down to 3.LOL

Anyway I thought about sharing something more today. So I am going to have a Comment contest to celebrate my 60th birthday. Below is a picture of some stash that I am going to send to the winner. When you leave a comment to this blog I will enter your name to the drawing and then on my nephew's birthday May 14th I will randomly pick a name and announce the winner. How does this sound.

There is a Heart in Hand complete kit of "Freedom". It comes with chart, 16ct aida, thread, charm,and tuck pillow, and then LHN "Simple Joys" So although it may be my birthday, someone else gets the present. Time starts now.

SAYS IT ALL

2011-04-24T16:35:00.002-05:00

HAVE A BLESSED AND GLORIOUS EASTER.

HE'S ALIVE!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARC!!!! with a C

2011-04-17T09:43:00.010-05:00

Today is my #1 nephew's birthday. I have 2 nephews and Marc is the older, which makes him #1 in birth order not in my heart. I am proud of both my nephews and Love them dearly. He works for the YMCA Corp. in Dallas TX. CAMP GRADY SPRUCE He loves his work, and has been involved in the management of several YMCA camps in Missouri, CA, OH, and now TX. He is married to a great gal Miranda, and they have 1 daughter Morgan.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARC, with a C.

I haven't baked anything for awhile so I am going to try a new recipe. I was talking to one of my co-workers and she is not a dessert person, but she said if you can figure anything out with chips I'm your girl. So I thought of potato chip cookies. I checked out allrecipes.com which is my favorite go to recipe site on the web, and found Potato Chip Cookies. I am off to bake them in just a little while. They take butter, so I have to let the butter get a little warm 1st. The recipe got 5 stars, and the reviewers commented that the cookies taste like a buttery pecan sandie. So I hope they turn out good.

Now on to my stitching this week. I finished the Butterfly I started last week. BRUSHSTROKE BUTTERFLY
I stitched it on white 28ct evenweave fabric 1 over 1 using earthtone colors. It was a fun design to stitch, so I have decided to do a couple of other patterns that I have in my stash. The one I am going to start today is "LIBELLULA (DRAGONFLY)" by Alessandra Adelaide Needleworks I am using 2 different colors of purple, 1 over 1, on white 28 ct evenweave. Then I have "Petit Chat" (Cat) by the same designer Alessandra Adelaide that I am going to do, but haven't decided what I am going to stitch that one on or if I'll do it over 1 also. Here is the link to her website. ALESSANDRA ADELAIDE NEEDLEWORKS

It's Sunday

2011-04-10T16:23:00.003-05:00

Didn't finish anything except a small Hobb Nobb

and haven't taken a picture of what I'm working on, a freebie I got off the internet Brushstroke Butterfly . I have had it in my stash and wanted something to stitch that was colorful, but not a lot of color changes. I am doing it in more earth colors instead of the colors listed. Hopefully I'll have it finished next week.

Till next week.

It is 1 week later...

2011-04-03T15:49:00.006-05:00

Sunday April 3rd. The sun is shining and the wind is blowing, and I am sitting here in front of the computer. I finished with my usual Sunday chores--napping, dishes, laundry, and cooking(eating). I was hungry for green beans, so I cooked up a batch with ham in them. MMM good! I may bake something in a little while, whatever the mood strikes me to do. I've been doing a little jazzing up on my blog. I really would like to do some more, but I'm trying something else.

Some of you know that I design cross stitch patterns and have for a number of years, although I'm not real successful at it. LOL. I have many of my older designs that I am going to be putting on my blog from time to time for all of you to copy for your own use. They are copyrighted so you can't sell them, but if you wish to make copies and share I have no problem with that. If I have any interest I may start offering some of the popular ones for sale at a low low price or newer designs I come up with. Here is the 1st of the freebies. I think if you click it to enlarge, then print, it will work (I HOPE). If not let me know by leaving a comment and I'll go back to the drawing board.

I finished my Blackbird Designs "Pumpkin Farm" and ordered a frame yesterday. Here it is finished and ironed.

I am now doing a small one, a Hobb Nob. I will have that one next week.

Until then.....

OK, OK...

2011-03-27T10:55:00.005-05:00

I am going to try to blog at least once a week, probably on Sunday. I will post any WIPS or finishes I have. This week it will be a WIP. This is Blackbird Designs "Pumpkin Farm"

I'm stitching on a piece of material that I had in my material stash that fit and that I liked the color. It is more golden than the picture indicates, & I think it may be Picture this plus Relic, and I'm using the floss that is called for in the design. I am going to try to get it done this week because I'd like to start something else. I do not like to go back to a project that I stopped working on or loss interest in, so if I want to finish I have to keep at it until that last stitch. I have plenty of UFO's all over in project bags etc that will prove this out, and they will probably never get finished either. I know all the tricks, you know the rotating of projects every week, but I have tried those and in all honesty I didn't enjoy any stitching, because I would be working on one and then need to switch. It was frustrating to me. The only enjoyment I got out of it was finally finishing some things, but not really liking them after I finished. I don't know if this makes any sense, but it was how I felt, like I pushed myself to just finish, not enjoy the trip of stitching.

I also think why I get in stitching slumps sometimes, is because I don't want to stitch on my WIP, I want to start a new one, and I don't start a new one because I'll feel guilty not finishing my WIP, so I don't do either. SLUMP. I am a very neurotic stitcher.

When I got up, I had a sink full of dishes, and laundry to do, so I got busy. Now it is 4 1/2 hours later and the laundry is done, and I cooked hamburgers, made some beef stew, and have an Italian meatloaf in the oven. My original sink full got washed but I have to go dry them and wash up the dishes I dirtied while cooking. I'll probably make a pot of coffee, because believe it or not I haven't had a cup yet.

This is a picture of the culprit's face that started the ball rolling at 7 am when he woke me up.

He looks like he's saying "Who Me?" He won't be real happy with me, because I think I'll run the vacuum around the house while the coffee is brewing, and he does not like that at all, he hides. Then I'll sit down and do something fun the rest of the day.

PS: While I was blogging, my meatloaf got a little too done. Really it's not too bad if you cut the top off. LOL

This one's for Nancy

2011-03-20T14:14:00.005-05:00

My good stitching friend NANCY commented to me a couple a weeks ago at our stitch group that I hadn't posted on my blog for a Long Time and "What's up with that?". Well she was so right. I tried to answer her by saying I don't think anyone ever read it anyway, I hadn't been doing much stitching, nothing to say, but what it really boils down to is that I am really a lazy person. So this one is for you Nancy.

I'm going to start out by showing a few things that I have stitched, even though I am right when I said I haven't done much stitching over the year. These are small Quakers from "Quaker & Quilts"

This one is the LK "Christmas Rules" I did the free top over 2 and the rules over 1

This one is the ornament that I made for the ornament exchange at our stitch group, It was fun and turned out really pretty I thought.
This is a Christmas table runner

These are mini stockings that I did for work, the names are all of my co-workers in my dept.

This is the clock pattern I designed but didn't stitch for my LNS's Fall stitcher's retreat "Camp Gotta Stitch"

I also added a new family member. My nephew Josh and his wife Kassie blessed me with my 2nd Great Niece, Gracie. This was taken when she was just a few days old.

This is when she was 3 months old and also this is a picture of my nephew Marc's daughter, my 1st Great Niece Morgan (7 1/2) at Christmas.
Just so you know this picture of Morgan is right side up, she loves doing cartwheels and is never still for too long.

I'm not going to promise that I will do any better than I have done before, but until I have some new pictures to put on, I guess this is it for now.

Happy Stitching

Finally finished

2010-01-24T13:34:00.004-06:00

Here are the pictures of the Friendship Sampler Round Robin that I told you about in my last post. This picture I stitched the center design over 1 and my Stitching Friends stitched the other designs over 2

And then this is what it looks like now. I took little motifs from Rosewood Manor books: "Quaker Diamonds","Family Reunion" and "Quakers & Quilts" and stuck them in where there was a space. I did all my stitching over 1. The floss that was used was DMC 3829, and Crescent Roasted Chestnut. I had the piece of material which is 28ct evenweave from Silkweavers, but I do not know the exact name, I think it is Sand but I'm not sure.

It is going to be a long time before I do another round robin, unless it is one that really interests me. I put a lot of pressure on myself because I wanted all my stitching to be absolutely perfect on everyones sampler. I kept making silly mistakes and had to frog almost every one of the designs that I stitched. I like the stitching that I do for myself to be as perfect as I can make it, but when I make a mistake in the work for me, I really don't get all bent out of shape. But when I am stitching on someone else's project it has to be 100% mistake free. PRESSURE AND NO FUN.

Back after many, many...

2010-01-21T19:27:00.002-06:00

months. The last time I wrote was in September 2009. Boy I'm not really proud of that. It's not like I have been super busy, it's more like I've been super lazy stittching for myself. I mean I haven't been stitching very much except on a friendship round robin sampler. 9 ladies including myself from the stitch group I belong to, decided to take certain patterns from Rosewood Manor's "Family Reunion" book and do a round robin friendship sampler. One of the ladies "mapped" out which of the designs went where, and everyone chose their material and flosses. Then every month we exchanged the samplers and worked on one of the designs. We all stitched the center design on our own piece before it got passed around. I took a picture of what it looked like when all of the designs were stitched, and then I added some smaller designs to fill in the spaces between. As soon as I get them downloaded onto my desktop computer, I will post them, so to be continued............

2 months since last time I wrote...

2009-09-11T06:40:00.005-05:00

so here I am. I have done some stitching since I last wrote so this will be a QUICK blog with some pictures.

I was on vacation for a few days and went with a friend to a shop in Effingham IL called The Last Straw. It's the kind of shop that if you want to do some decorating with knick-knacks, flowers, etc. you go there. They have good quality stuff(and you pay for it). I decided to see if they had something that I could hang Halloween ornaments on, and they did have some black bendable branch things that if you put 3 together, and anchored them in some container they would make a decent Halloween Tree that I could hang the ornaments on. I could have gotten branches off my tree, spray painted them and done the same thing, but that was too much work and bother. The sales lady also showed us a taller plastic black tree that the branches came off for storage like an artificial Christmas tree for around $30-35. This was too big for my plans and too expensive, but my friend, Ramona, owns the LNS and thought hanging Halloween ornaments was a great idea. So to finish this LONG story, instead of me buying the branches and making a tree for myself, I stitched the ornaments to put in the shop on their tree. Now some pictures------

The designers of these ornament are: Blackbird "Tis Halloween" Alphabet stocking 1 over 1, The Stitcherhood "Witches Stockings" 1 over 1, Lizzie Kates Halloween Double Flips 1 over 1, and Samsarah Pearls "Boo" linen and "Nevermore" on Aida 18ct.

Here it is June and the last time....

2009-06-04T20:26:00.006-05:00

I put anything on my blog was in Feb. Man I really am behind aren't I. I really don't feel like I've done anything to put on the blog, but I'll go search my pictures and see what I can find. I'll be right back........

Oh I found one. This is one I stitched for my cousin's 1st Grandchild. I took a LK pattern "It's a Girl Thing" and didn't stitch the word thing and added another daisy. The baby's room was decorated in light pinks and light sage green, with the baby bedding from Pottery Barn for Kids, and it had the flowers like this on it. It's kind of hard to tell from the picture, but after I did the main stitching I outlined the flowers and stems through some quilt batting by backstitching, so it was puffy like a quilt. It turned out really nice and I loved the effect of the quilting. The new parents really liked it too.

I finished one for the shop too, "Amazing Grace". I don't have a picture of how they framed it but here's the stitched piece.

You know I am highly critical(Maybe you don't know, but I am) of people who talk on cell phones while driving because they don't pay attention and accidents happen so quickly, WELLLLLL I have got to keep my mouth shut now, because even though I wasn't talking on my cell phone, I was reaching for a kleenex out of the box that had fallen on the floor, and this wooden pole jumped right in front of me. I feel like I was so blessed, I wasn't going very fast and all I ended up with was some colorful bruises where the seatbelt tightened up on me. But it totaled my car, so I have been spending some time searching for another car. Here is what stupid looks like---

Well it's getting about time to shut the computer off and go pay attention to Jasper, he has been in here a couple time meowing at me to come in to the living room, it is time for him to settle down for the night and he wants to sleep a little on my lap. Bossy little thing isn't he, and I reinforce his behavior by doing exactly what he wants me to do. He's got me trained well.

A FINISH........

2009-02-16T10:28:00.005-06:00

YEAH!!!!!!!!. I was stalled on my Counted Canvas picture, and I think it's because I really didn't like the last few rows of it. It is by From Nancy's Needles and its called Hearts and Flowers . I don't like the zig zag too much, so I stopped at the hearts row, and I like it better. . What do you think???? I'm going to take it to the shop and get it framed today.

When I go to shop today I have to get some floss to start some new projects. I have a birth announcement to do for my cousin's son and daughter-in-law. The baby is due in March, and I am going to stitch a display for the shop. So since I did not have any of the floss that either of these called for I decided to do a quick project. I had the girls get the book when they were in Nashville last weekend. It's from Cat's Whisker's Designs Cupcakes Glorious Cupcakes . I got the silicone cupcake holders last weekend and wanted to do one. Isn't it adorable. It only took me a couple of hours from start to finish. I'm going to sit in on my desk at work. I'll have to take a few pictures of some of the other things that I had them get for me, but right now I'm charging the batteries in my camera. After I took the cupcake picture, my batteries died.

I'm off from work "bless those Presidents" so I have a free day. I've got a load of clothes in the washer, and I'm making a crockpot full of Weight Watcher Free Points soup(yes I'm back to doing WW). Tomorrow is weigh in day for me. I stopped doing the WW seriously, and gained back about 30 pounds. BAD GIRL BAD BAD BAD. I started back doing it the 1st part of January. I'm not losing as quickly as I did before which is frustrating, but I have had a loss, sometimes slight, but a loss every weigh in. So far it's been a little over 9 pounds since joining again. I have to weigh at the evening meeting which is a bummer though. What really irritates me is that I was within 20 pounds of goal weight, now I'll have to lose 50 to reach it. I have no one to blame but myself.

Well I'll write more when I get back.

I started a new project..

2009-01-25T16:03:00.003-06:00

and it is kind of fun. Let me explain. When the girls and I were down at St. Charles last fall for the trade show, we found the vendor, maybe some of you might remember her, "From Nancy's Needle". Her designs used to have small wreaths that you glued onto the design that you cross stitched. They were really popular for awhile. This time she had what is called Counted Canvas. It is needlepoint, but the design is not painted onto the canvas, you count just like cross stitching, and you use needlepoint and embroidery stitches, and pearle cotton flosses. They were gorgeous, and we each got one, and the girls got a few for the shop. Well I hadn't started the one I got yet, and last week when Ramona and I went to The Stitcher's Station in Hillsboro I found another one there that I liked even better than the one I got in St. Charles. So I bought it. I started it last Sunday and here is a picture of my progress. Of course I changed the colors that the pattern called for (don't I always?? LOL).

The design is called "Hearts and Flowers" The finished size will be a little bigger than 8 1/2" square. I will post the finished picture later.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

2009-01-01T10:12:00.002-06:00

Today is January 1, 2009, and I want to wish anyone who is reading this a Happy New Year. I hope that all your days of 2009 are filled with Love, Peace, Joy, Laughter, and LOTS of STITCHING TIME.

Susie-q

A few weeks have gone by....

2008-10-12T12:02:00.011-05:00

and I've gotten some stitching done. Some of the stitching has been for display models for the shop,I've got to keep earning to pay for the trip to the trade show,LOL. Here are some finishes.

This picture is of some LK's. The LK "Holly" in the banner was posted on my last blog, but it was hanging right above the 2 picture from the Tiny Tidings XIII.

This one is from the Halloween JCS Ornament book new this year. I put it in a banner from Stitch-A-Gift too. The design is a Brittercup

This 3rd one is the new one from Crescent that we got at the show. It comes in a kit with the floss, and the fabric is 30ct Weeks Dye Works "Sky". It is framed in the "Ethel" frame from their Family Tree Frame Co. This one is the shops model. I have a kit of my own to do sometime.

All you stitchers know that once you start stitching baby announcements for the 1st baby in a family, you end up having to continue the tradition. This is what this next picture is. A good friend of mine and his wife had their 4th and final baby, and I just got it framed.

In my last blog I told you that I had begun stitching "Boo" by Samsarah designs. Well I finished that one, and also finished the little snowman "Twinkle" I haven't made them into pinkeeps(I think that's what I'll do), but the stitching and embellishing it done.

I worked at the shop this Saturday while the owners were having their Fall retreat. I helped at the retreat Friday evening too. I designed the projects for the Friday evening "Meet and Greet", and for the big Saturday projects. Here is a picture of the Friday's, I haven't gotten a picture of the Saturday's yet though. They taught them the Flat-Fold finish technique, which is what I used to finish my models. If you are interested in learning how to do this, check out Vonna's blogThe Twisted Stitcher this is where I learned. She has several wonderful tutorials on her blog, and easy to follow instructions.

Well I think I'll go fix something for lunch now. Talk later.

I'm Home!!!!!

2008-09-21T08:55:00.015-05:00

I went to the Needlework Trade Show last weekend (Sunday/Monday) and had a WONDERFUL time. My former shop partners asked me if I wanted to go with them, and so off to St. Charles, MO we went. Going down there (2 1/2hr) we went through horrible rain downpours, but we made it in OK time. Then off to the show. Since it was the 1st time in St. Charles, it was a small show compared to others, but there were 4 1/2 floors of the Embassy Hotel filled with needlework vendors. Not all vendors were cross stitch, there were yarns, needlepoint etc. too, but believe me, I found enough cross stitch to buy. I have been working for the shop either by stitching models or working on a Saturday, to help pay for some of the stuff I bought, but still I will be their indentured slave for quite awhile. Here is a list of things that I bought...

JABCO
buttons

SAMSARAH
"Home"
"Boo"
"Nevermore"
"Twinkle"
"Maple Leaf & Star Welcome"

DINKY DYES
"Love Laugh, Survive, Thrive" Limited Edition
"The Dreaming" & floss kit
"The Min Min" & floss kit
KELMSCOTT Breast Cancer Scissors go with the Limited Edition Kit

STITCHWORKS
"Acorns in the Round"

HANDBLESSINGS
"Picket Fence Welcome"
"Stitching Nut"
"Hooked on Winter"

NORDEN (Had to order these items)
Stretcher Barrs
3 Angel/Cat Pins
Magnifier Flip Glasses
Cat Scissor Fob
Monopoly Game-Stitching Version

LIZZIE KATE
"Naughty or Nice"
"Be Blox"

HINZEIT
"Autumn Wishes"
"Winter Wishes"
"Season's Greetings"

JBW "Baby's 1st Christmas", CRESCENT "All in a Sleigh", THREAD GATHERER "I Believe",
NANCY'S NEEDLE "Mary's Little Lamb".

STITCH-A-GIFT
Variety

GENTLE ART
Variety, also they had some Limited Editions that were going pretty cheaply. The colors were varied, but I couldn't resist those either.

Now material, some of this is PICTURE THIS PLUS, R&R, WEEKS-DYE WORKS, and WICHELT--

Dark Espresso, Cappucino(RR), 18th Century Gold, 18th Century Stone, Cappucino(aida, Wichelt) Willow Green, Graziano9green), Jobelan Raspberry Lite, Old Lace CF Aida, Crystal Areial(Cashel & Aida) Crystal Dwarf, Relic

Didn't I tell you I would be working the rest of my natural days paying all this off?

Now for some pictures of things I've stitched.

I repeated the Stitching Nut, cause I think it's so cute, LK Tangle, and Holly(I had to stitch something to put in a Stitch A Gift that I got last week), and then the birth announcement for a co-worker. I'm stitching a SamSarah Pearl "Boo" now on the Relic linen that I got.

By the way,the cat didn't come with the material like in the picture. There is some kind of smell that is almost like catnip to him on the material. He got fighting mad when I started to put it away, he growled at me.

Until next time.

A Finish

2008-08-03T14:28:00.005-05:00

I finished my Bent Creek “Change of Seasons Row”. I stitched it over 1 on 25ct Country Mocha Lugana, using regular DMC floss. I do not know what I’m going to do with it because I don’t know where I will hang it once framed. So I probably will put it aside until I decide where to hang it. Then I’ll go to the expense of framing it.
I just liked the pattern and wanted to stitch it. It is 366 stitches long, so even over 1 the finished design is about 14”.

Now I am starting the LHN "Little House Neighborhood". I am stitching it on Drk. Cappicino 40ct over 2, using DMC floss. I plan to change it around a little and eliminate one row, so it won't be as big as the design is. I really don't like people in my samplers, and I like 3 out of the 4 houses. I could probably substitute another house from some other LHN pattern in the top row, so I may do that instead. I'm starting on the bottom and working my way up, so I have some time to decide. I'll try to post my WIP as I go. Right now all I have is the door of the bottom row house partially finished, so there's not much to see yet.

One of the clients at work has put in a small garden. So far I have been given a couple of green peppers, and a yellow zucchini. I made a kind of Spanish rice with the green pepper, and I tried my hand at making Chocolate Zucchini cookies. I’ve made Chocolate Zucchini Bread before so that's why I wanted something different. I go on all recipes.com all the time to get new ideas. I’ve gotten some really good recipes from that website. The recipes are submitted by anyone who wants, and then you can review it. It usually go for the recipes that have 4½-5 stars, and read the reviews. I figure if it is rated that high and the reviews are great, then I’ll give it a try. That's where I got my cookie recipe, and they were a hit. They were gone that day.

I worked a couple of weeks ago on a Saturday at the shop, and in September there is a Needlework Trade Show in St. Charles MO, that I have been invited to go to with the ladies at the shop. This is the 1st time one will be held there, so we are going to check it out. Because of Rockome, the ladies couldn't go to Columbus OH to the show in June. I haven't been to a trade show, in over 10 years, it seems. I hope it is a good one, I'm looking forward to it.

I'm trying to do better..

2008-07-13T07:40:00.004-05:00

at writing in my blog. I took Monday and Tuesday off from work and had an extended 4th of July holiday. I stayed home and stitched for the most part. I saw this LK pattern and thought how cute it would be over 1. And I was right.

I bought a raw wood frame from the shop and stained it with a very light wood stain, then stained a couple of small flower wood appliques that I got from Michaels and glued them on the frame. The LK kit comes with material, and embellishments, but doing it over 1, they wouldn't fit. I stitched it on antique white instead of the material that came with the kit, and used DMC instead of the overdyed floss colors. So I guess basically all I wanted to use was the pattern. I'm going to put it on my desk at work, using the easel that I have it on in the picture.

I went to Walmart(big surprise) and bought a few things yesterday. One of things I bought was the new Nora Roberts' book, TRIBUTE I've put my stitching down this weekend to read the book. I'm about halfway through it, and it's pretty good. When I get it done, then I'll continue stitching the LK Christmas double flips. When I was at Michaels last Sunday, I bought some more felt to finish these Double Flips. I still haven't found the felt that I bought before, but I have no doubts that I will run across it.(see last blog)

1 SAL down 1 to go.

2007-10-09T22:17:00.000-05:00

I finished 1 of my SAL, and mounted it into this box lid. I think the box is a Sudberry but I'm not sure. I got the box at the closing sale at Mom & Me when I went down to Lebanon. I normally do not buy little boxes, but it was on sale and I thought it would look cute with something over 1 mounted in it. I am working on the other SAL now, and when I get a little further along on it I'll post a picture.

I may have a lot more time in the coming weeks to do stuff. My boss(notice the little letters so you know I'm not talking about Jasper THE BOSS) told me right after I got to work Monday morning that he was going to be laying off the office staff. This includes me. So I will be looking for another job, and drawing unemployment for the 1st time ever. I have worked here for 30 years, since I was 26. He wants me to work this week and next week, and show him how to do some of my work. His wife is going to come in and work the office. The angel and the devil that are on my shoulders have been fighting a lot. The angel says to come in and do my job as always until I have to go, but that little devil says "What are they going to do fire you?" Can you tell I'm not real happy. Some things are going to have to go, like my Gym dues, and Weight Watchers dues. I will need you all to help me more than ever to encourage me to continue with the weight loss. I'm an emotional eater, and with extra time on my hands it's going to be difficult not to hit the fridge.

I've enjoyed the comments my friends have left on my blog posts:

NancyJ - It will take a quite a few more pounds to totally do away with me. I still have about 30-35 pounds to go, and if I went by the WW goal chart I would have 50 pounds to go, which ain't going to happen, and you can over and meet Jasper anytime you want, but no offense I don't think you should bring along your furbabies, I'm not real sure how he would be around other cats. He's a little aggressive, sometimes he just tolerates me and that's only because I feed him and clean his liter pan and after all he is THE BOSS, and it's his territory.

Chelle - Thanks for your support and for making me your Weight Loss Hero. The only other person who has said I was their hero was my older nephew.

Well I'd better listen to that angel on my shoulder and get to work, so until later

susieq
2 lbs lighter-total 75

7 years ago today

2007-01-17T11:50:00.000-06:00

I have been very introspecting, if that's the word I mean, today. It was January 17th, 2000 that I couldn't get my Mom on the phone when she should have been there, and I rushed home to find her on the bathroom floor, she had a heart attack and was gone by the time I got there. Other than the obvious things that I miss, I was reminded when I read a message on a board that I read about how this 1 poster had to get over the fact that her Mother wasn't there to admire her stitching. My Mom was my biggest supporter, and I do miss that a lot. I can remember after 1 particularly successful sale day at the shop a few years ago, my partners were calling their families and telling them excitedly all the details. I felt lost, she had shared in so many ups and downs in my life and she wasn't there to call. There are times when only a Mom's ((((hug)))) will do, in the good and bad, you know. God, I'm getting really depressing. I'm really really very thankful that I had my Mom with me as long as I did. So as they say on another message board I frequent "I'm raising my cup to you Mom. You were one great lady & the best friend a girl could be lucky to have. Thanks!"

susieq
http://www.picturetrail.com/mjw91821/