I've been stitching like a mad woman lately. I have been staying up way too late, and Jake has been waking up way too early!! Coffee has been my best friend lately! I got some more done on my marriage sampler...



I thought I was going to run out of the green for the grass again. Thankfully I had *just* enough. I'll have to order more for when I do the bottom portion of grass. I'd love to get this finished before my drawn thread weekend in April.

Well, I went on another little ordering spree. It's really bad when I discover something new because the designs just call to me. I can't help myself, really! I ordered Mouline Rouge by Long Dog Samplers. It's a Quaker style sampler and it's HUGE!! I also ordered some of Vicki Clayton's Turkey Red silk to stitch it. Only, I didn't order enough. I ordered 20 yds, and I'm going to need 200 yards!!!!

I keep telling myself, ok I'll get this, but that's it! Well, this time I'm serious because I have to save money for my trip!! I have been signing up almost daily for the HGTV home giveaway. I love everything about this house - inside and out!! Here's a link to my dream home!

Well, that's all for now! Write more later!! :)

Harvest Moon is Finished!!!
I'm so happy it's finally done. I finished it late last night (about 1 am). I got a chance to stitch a little on my MOM sampler today, I'm really hoping to get the upper part finished soon and then it's on to the 1st section of the sonnet. Well, here's the pic...



It's not the greatest pic, but you get the idea! Here's a link to a bigger pic through webshots. Now I'm off to clean! I really would love a maid!! LOL!

Stash Update!!
I went to my LNS today. I didn't want to take the kids, but had no choice. Jake was a little fussy, but pretty good. I got a couple Quaker patterns (my new obsession); Quaker Friendship Sampler and Judith Townsend. And some Needlepoint Inc. silk to stitch them. When I got home two packages were waiting for me. One from Wyndham Needleworks that had a thread pack and linen for the Quaker Heart pattern in the Winter 2003 issue of Fine Lines magazine. It also had another Quaker pattern by Little by Little called Quaker Rose. Ok and to continue the Quaker obsession I ordered this old issue of SANQ (Sampler and Antique Needlework Quarterly), which features a beautiful Quaker sampler and bellpull. And the other was a eBay win with Drawn Thread's Real Roses. I have always loved this one. Well, I'm off to drool! :) And maybe get some stitching done??? That's all for now!

I'm feeling stitching deprived! I have been cleaning and cooking all day. Ok so I played a very addictive computer game called Zuma. So now I'd really like to start stitching but I have laundry. Ok, I'm sounding really whiny right now. I'd better get back to what I'm supposed to be doing!! :)

The migraine monster is back! I woke up this morning with him lurking by and before I knew it he had completely taken over!! Thankfully I didn't get too sick, but it was touch and go there for a little bit. Ugh, I hate it!! Thanks again mom for introducing that horrible creature to me!!

On a good note, I did get a lot done on my Harvest Moon sampler. It just feels like it's taking forever!! Well, it kind of is, I've only been working on it since September of 98. It's almost done though... Just have to finish up the veggies on the bottom, some backstitching and then the beading! Woo hoo!!

I updated my SB BB with a Valentine theme. I think it turned out pretty cute! It's so hard getting the colors to come out right. And then in a couple of the forums it was blacked out in a few places. I couldn't figure that out at all. So I just changed the layout on those.

Well, I got my confirmation from Elegant Stitch the other day! :) And my plane ticket is on my fridge! All I need to do now is pack!! :) And figure out how we're getting to the airport. I'll ask Shelley (the lady I'm going with) when I see her at the stitch-in next weekend! :) That's all for now. I'm off to take some more Excedrin.

First my computer and then my washing machine! Everything decided to break down at once! :) I can fix my computer but not the washer. So we got a new one the other day and they delivered it today. So I've spent the day doing laundry! Fun, fun! My mom's washer also broke down at the same time, so she came over and did some laundry. Now I'm finishing it for her. You never realize how important something is to you until it's broken! It was time to get a new one anyways, we've had ours for 10 years now. And it was so tiny, it took forever to do laundry. Now it takes half the time. Anyways, no stitching done today. :( I was hoping to get more done on my Harvest Moon. Maybe I'll make some coffee to wake myself up and start stitching! That's all for now!

Ugh! My computer was all messed up! It kept going blank when it was restarted. Just the arrow and the background. I could revert the harddrive and it would be fixed, but then it would only let me go back so far. So, I had to reinstall all my programs. Thankfully all my files are still there. That would have been sad because I have a lot of pictures, papers, and other important files I didn't want to lose. Well, it's late so I'm off to bed! I got a little bit of stitching done on my SB Harvest Moon. I really want to get it finished so I can concentrate on my Marriage of Minds! :)

Big Announcement Here!
I'm going to the Drawn Thread weekend hosted by Elegant Stitch in California!!! I still can't believe it! There was one spot left and I asked dh and he said yes, so I got it! It all happened so fast! I fly into San Francisco on April 30th. I'll tell more about it later when my wonderful children aren't acting like crazy people! :)

I have a new progress pic of TMOM. I decided not to work on my bent creek project. there was only 1 1/2 trees done and I didn't like the fabric, so I cut it up and put the threads and pattern away. I did the same thing for another project I just didn't like anymore. It feels almost as good as finishing them. At least there out of the way now and not "haunting" me. So here's a listing of my UFOs/WIPs

Project - Date Started
SB's Tina's Stocking - 98
SB's Harvest Moon - 98
L&L Fairy Grandmother - 6/98
L&L Quiltmaker - 1/99
L&L Angel of the Winter 12/6/99
Mira Rose Arbour - 1/19/00
Mira Enchanted Dreamer - 7/7/01
Mira Queen Mermaid - 3/24/02
Mira Deepest Love - 8/02
L&L Secret Santa - 11/23/02
Mira Villa Mirabilia - 9/10/03
L&L Celtic Summer - 11/20/03
DT Marriage of Minds - 1/9/04

Ok, what does that tell me... I shouldn't start anymore L&L's or Mirabilia's!! :) And I need the number to ghost stitchers! LOL! I'm really close to finishing a couple of them, I don't know why I just can't do it! Maybe that will be my goal. To get the one's that are close to be finished, done! The ones that I've just started get rid of. The ones that are about halfway done, put in a rotation sort of thing. Although I'm not good at rotations. My method is screaming, which ever screams the loudest is what I work on! :)

Oh yeah the pic! here it is...



That's all for now! Going to sort through those wips. Maybe put some things on ebay or the BB's! :)

I decided to work on something a little smaller for a break and got a UFO finished! :) It's Birds of a Feather Pray for Peace. It turned out so pretty. It's on 36 ct. linen (yes, I had to use a maginifier!). Here's the pic...



Now, I think I'm going to finish another UFO, Peaceful Forest by Bent Creek. I started in 2001, I think? It feels great to get old projects out of the way!

Well, dh comes home tomorrow, so I'd better get some cleaning done. Fun, fun!!!

P.S. I just noticed my comments are gone. I read on Stacey's that hers were gone also. I'll have to see if I can get em back somehow.

update: I got my comments back and I changed my "skin." I love the new look, I was a little tired of the orange! :)

A little more progress...



I ran out of the Green Gables Luminesence (don't they look yummy?), but I knew I was going to because I tangled half of it. And I used about 4 lengths starting on the other fabric. So I placed an order with Lois and it should be here soon! :) My first order I placed still isn't here. I'm worried that a. it got lost in the mail or b. I placed way too many orders and have just confused the heck out of Lois. I'm sure it will get here, but if it's not by the end of the week I'll probably email just to make sure. Something may have been backordered or something.

See that's why my dh should not leave town because I get too bored and start ordering way too much off the net. I keep telling myself, ok that's it! And then there I go and place a new order. It's mainly because of my new sampler obsession! Especially Quaker Samplers. I think I've ordered 4 new Quaker patterns. My justification is that I can always sell some of my older things I'm not interested in anymore. Well, that's all for now! Hopefully I'll have more progress on my TMOM for tomorrow! :)

Update - I got my package from Lois - my 1st order was included with this one. It's like Christmas all over again!! I may be poor now, but I'm happy! :)

I miss my dh. Ok, I'll admit it, the first week he was gone it was kinda fun. I left the house a mess and stitched the nights away. Now, I just miss him. I can't wait till Friday when the big p.i.m.b will be home. :) I called him and he's playing poker with his friends, so he's having fun! I got some more done on my sampler. It's really coming along nice. I'm hoping to stick with it!

I'm so happy, I've met a stitching buddy near me! I'm going to a stitch-in at her house on the 31st. It should be a lot of fun. I'm going to meet another gal from my SB bb there. I've been moving around so much lately that it's been hard to meet people that share my same interests. Now that I'm settled somewhat, I've actually met someone. I requested the day off and dh gets to watch the boys! :) Well, I'm probably going to stitch a little more and then I'll post another scan tomorrow.

That's all for now! :)

Oh Man, I just got off work and I'm tired! I came home to kitty poopy under the bed, what joy! :) And I have no more carpet spray! That's always what I look forward to after a long day. Anyways, I did get some more done on my Marriage sampler...



This scan is a little darker because I put it on scroll rods, the fabric was too big. I'm definitely becoming sampler obssessed lately. I ordered some silks and linen to do my Sarah Tatum Quaker Sampler. It's a huge one too! I had orignally planned on using DMC, but I thought for a project this special it deserves silks. Ok, I'm really ashamed to admit it, but I'm becoming a silk snob. And I really can't afford to be one. It's really pathetic. I'm a silk junkie.

Well, that's all for now! I have the day off tomorrow! I'm going to try to get more done on my sampler!

I finally got to watch Pirates of the Carribean and I loved it!!!! It was awesome, and I can't wait to watch it again! While I was watching it I was stitching my Marriage of Minds sampler. Here's my wip so far...



I just love the old-fashionedness (is that a word?) of it so far. I think I'm going to be stitching a lot samplers this year. That's really where my tastes are leaning.

I'm a little sleep deprived today. I didn't go to bed until after 1am and then Jake woke up at 6am and I didn't go back to bed. Oh well, I don't have anywhere to go today! :) That's all for now!

Yeah! I got a new scanner! Here are my latest pics...

Mystery VI needleroll



Mini Mystery D part 1a



Well, there's been more fabric delimas! I decided I didn't like the sandstone afterall, so I went and got some natural. I'm liking it, but I still don't like the feel of the fabric. So we're near the cross stitch shop in Rome. I decided to get some flax Belfast, which feels wonderful! But the color is too light. The white thread blends in way too much. Why didn't I bring in the thread?? So I'm back with the natural and I think I'm going to stick with it and just live with the way it feels. I'm such a spaz. I need help! I'm going to go stitch and stop worrying! :)

I'm so disappointed! I haven't gotten my package from Elegant stitch yet. Oh well, I'm sure it will be here soon. Lois is very reliable! Well, I started a new project, and it's not any new project it a HUGE new project! It's Drawn Thread's Marriage of Minds. I decided midday yesterday that's what I wanted to start. I had a piece of fabric all ready to go with it, and then I realize I'd only have about an inch margin on the top and bottom. So I search through all my stash and I have nothing long enough!! Major delima!! So I remember Hobby Lobby has fat halves. They only have them in Permin linen (not my first choice), but I'm desperate! So I pack up the kids and run to hobby lobby. I pick two colors, Lambswool and Sandstone. I also pick up a new Lokscroll scroll frame, which I love by the way! When I get home I do a floss toss and end up going with the Sandstone linen. I'm really liking it so far. I only regret slightly that I couldn't wait to get my fabric of choice, which would've been Belfast or an R&R hand-dyed. Oh well, I think I'll live!!

Finished in 2003
SB - An American Sampler 2/9
SB - Be True 2/19
SB - For a Friend 2/20
SB - Queen Bee Sampler 3/13
Lizzie Kate - Garden Patch 3/20
SB - Three Pale Eggs 3/26
SB - Shepherd's Hill 4/5
Lizzie Kate - Spring ABC's 4/9
SB - Egg Basket 4/10
Lizzie Kate - Spring Boxer 4/21
SB - Stitcher's Roll 4/26
SB - Spring Fob 4/30
Lizzie Kate - Liberty 5/8
SB - Stripes 5/21
L&L - Angel of the Morning 6/14
SB - French Heart 7/15
Mirabilia - Titania 8/7
SB - Take My Heart 8/9
SB - Be Mine 8/10
SB - Liberty 8/18
Heart in Hand - Oct. Mania 10/16
Bent Creek - Redbird Sampler 10/19
SB - Bethlehem Christmas 10/22
Lizzie Kate - Halloween 10/26
Brightneedle - Keywest Sampler 10/29
Chatelaine - Bluebell Fan 11/5
SB - Sophie's Roses 12/2

I decided to list my 2003 finishes. It was a good stitching year for me. In 2002 I was pregnant with Jake and was too tired to stitch!! You think I'd be tired after the baby, but at least then I could drink coffee! :) I noticed I didn't have any finishes in September, I must have been busy with school. Hopefully I can finish as much in 2004! :) Getting them all Framed or finished is the problem!!

I finished my Mini D part 1a. Unfortunately I can't show a picture because my scanner isn't working!! It's so frustrating! I also got my Mystery VI needleroll finished and I finished it into a needleroll. I left my digital camera at a friends house. The kids were acting crazy so I told her I would just get it later. Now I regret that! Oh well, the world won't come to an end if they don't get to see pics of my finishes!! :) I worked on Celtic Summer a little last night. I'll probably work on it some more today. After I get the house clean a little. These kids may be small, but they sure can destroy a house fast. The little one has been biting me a lot lately. I know it's just a phase, but it hurts!! Aren't toddlers great? :)

I got a little bit more stitching done on my Mini D. It's coming along nicely! :) My dh just left for 2 weeks to go to Mississippi. Which means I'm going to be getting a lot more stitching done! Of course I'm going to miss him, it will just be a nice break for us both! Well, hopefully I have a scan of my progress today!

Well, we are finally getting over the sickness. Nothing too exciting going on here. I started Mini Mystery D yesterday. It's stitching up fairly quick so far. I'll post a pic when I finish with part one. I order a few things from Elegant Stitch yesterday. I got Lizzie's Kate's new monthly designs January and February. I also got some Weeks Dye Works and linen to stitch them. The next thing I got was Shepherd's Bush's new Monthly Musings Snow and the fabric and buttons to stitch it. I love these designs because they are on 10 ct. fabric. It just looks like it will be a nice break from stitching on small ct. linen. The last thing I ordered was Hillside Samplings Pomegrante Sampler. I saw that Diane from Sampler Cove had stitched it and it was so pretty. I love all the samplers she's stitched, and the framing on them is outstanding (ok, I'm a little envious)! ;) Well, that's all for now! Did I enable anyone? I'll let you all know when I get my goodies!! :)