Where Have I been?

I just saw a message on the Legacy BB about stitching over one. Ruth Sparrow uses a great method that makes stitching over one so much faster. Click here for a link to her site. I just had to share this technique! I'm sure my stamps are going to go much faster now!

I went stitching again!

There weren't as many people there last night, but it was still fun. It felt good to get out of the house for a little bit! The bad thing is I feel obligated to get a couple things whenever I'm there! And the really bad thing is I keep forgetting to get my card punched! :) I got the 2006 JCS Ornament Edition, Blackbird Designs Glad Tidings, & Twisted Oaks Designs French Monogram Collection III.





I also got a little bit done on my October LK Stamp. It's definitely slow going doing it over one, but I am liking how it's turning out. And at that shop they have LK flip-it blocks done over one and it looks so cute, so that motivated me to keep going. (Sorry for the crooked scan)





I took the cutest pictures of Matthew yesterday. He was napping on his tummy with his butt in the air. I just love baby feet!








Well, we are headed up to Georgia, so I won't have access to the internet while I'm away. I'll be back online Tuesday - write then! :)

Our Walk to the Beach

I took Jake and Matthew to the beach today. I was inspired by Mary Kathryn's pictures of the mountains. Here's the pictures I took along the way..



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We didn't actually go in the water, or get pictures up close of the water because of Red Tide. There was a ton of dead fish on the shore. Not pretty! It didn't smell too nice either! Hopefully red tide will be gone soon, and then we can go in the water.

If the slideshow above isn't working click here.

I was bad!

Quaker Samplings with fabric and threads.
Originally uploaded by nevillen.

Very bad! I'm trying to get on a budget, and I'm not doing too well here! :) Starting October I'll definitely be on it! I got the new Quaker Samplings from With My Needle. Along with the fabric - 32 Maple Sugar by Lakeside Linens and the Crescent Colours in Milady's Teal. Yum, yum!! :) Now lets see how long I can hold off starting this! I definitely want to get at least one of my wips or ufos out the way before I do.


We are going up to Georgia on Saturday (or Friday night) to get our house ready to sell. We're taking the baby and leaving the older boys with their grandma (my mother-in-law). My mom is going to be painting her terazzo floors. It should be lots of fun for everyone! :) Write later.

Lizzie Kate Flip-it Stamps

Lizzie Kate Flip-it Stamps
Originally uploaded by nevillen.

I'm insane! I started this project when I was in that anxious-ready-to-have-baby-phase! I knew I would start a bunch of projects even though I told myself not to - I just couldn't help myself. Anyway, I decided I was going to stitch all the stamps on one piece of fabric. I started with January. After seeing KathieB's stamps over one I decided to restart them over one (starting at the bottom with October). Now I don't know if that was such a good idea! Over one takes a lot of concentration for me! And the problem is I already cut the fabric. Dh says just get a new piece of fabric, but I don't know ... I think I will like it, it's just not as easy as I thought it would be! :) Write more later!

One Medallion finished!

The Token
Originally uploaded by nevillen.

I worked on this a lot last night and got it finished up tonight. I love how it's turning out. I think I may make this my weekend project and work on small things during the week.


My baby is sleeping in the crib my mom bought him. It seems so strange not having him right here next to us in his bassinet. He was definitely starting to outgrow it though. It's so sweet to see all three boys sleeping together in the same room. The older boys have a bunk bed. Well, not much else going on! Write later!

Small Start....

The Token - Started 9/23/06.
Originally uploaded by nevillen.

I started The Token today. I love how it's turning out! I can't wait until tonight when I can I stitch more on it. I sent the kids and dh to the in-laws, and I decided to stay home with the baby. So it should be a nice, quiet night! My mom just came home with a new crib for Matthew, so I'd better go!

Where There is Life - finished!

Where There is Life - finished!
Originally uploaded by nevillen.

Yeah! I got my Little House Needleworks "Where There is Life" kit finished up tonight. It was stitched on 28 ct. Flax Cashel linen using all Crescent Colours threads. I was going to start on The Token tonight, but I feel like I'm catching a little cold. I may just go bed and start tomorrow. Write later!

Matthew - 9 weeks.

I just had to share a couple pictures of the baby! I can't believe how big he's getting! Time flies!

I bought some silk!

Caron Collection Soie Cristale
Originally uploaded by nevillen.

I knew I couldn't resist getting silk. I got Caron Soie Cristale very close to the DMC 823. I think I'm going to be very happy with it! And since it's 12 ply I don't need as many skeins. :) I'm hoping to get Where There is Life finished up today and then start on The Token soon after that. I didn't go to the stitch-in yesterday. I was going to - I actually left the house and then decided I really didn't feel like making the drive. I deposited my paycheck, got some chinese, and came home. I still had a nice night stitching and watching the premiere of Grey's Anatomy, which was pretty good! We'll probably go to the in-law's tomorrow, so the kids can swim and grandma can cuddle the baby. Write more later!

The Token

The Token
Originally uploaded by nevillen.

I picked up The Token by Long Dog Samplers yesterday at the LNS close to my son's school. The LNS is Silk Road Needlearts. Amazingly there is another LNS two doors down from this shop called Alex-Paras NeedleArts - it's mainly needlepoint, but they have a TON of silk threads - it really is heaven just to walk in there. I took all the kids, so it was a little hectic - I didn't really get a chance to look like I would've liked. I noticed while I was there (the first shop) a time before that he had some Picture this Plus fabric, so I also got some in relic. I was thinking The Token might look pretty done on that fabric with navy threads. I couldn't decide if I should use silk, overdyed, or just plain old DMC. I think I'm narrowing it down to silk or DMC. I think the fabric is too busy to busy it up more with overdyed threads. I'm wondering if I start with DMC will I regret it and wish I was using silk? And then the next dilema if I do use DMC do I use one thread or two? Decisions, decisions...

Where There is Life....

Where There is Life....
Originally uploaded by nevillen.

I got all the regular stitching done on Where There is Life. Now I just have to do the border. I think I should be able to get that finished up tonight. Lately I've been putting the older boys to bed around 8-8:30 because that's around the same time Matthew has been going to bed for the night. That leaves me 2-3 hours of stitching time each night. I'm trying to decide if I'm going to go to the stitch-in tonight, or stay home to watch the premiere of Grey's Anatomy. I don't have my VCR set up to tape it, maybe I'll do that and go to the stitch-in? Man, I need TIVO!! :)

LHN Where There is Life

LHN Where There is Life - Started 9/19/06
Originally uploaded by nevillen.

I decided to start this kit last night. It's a fun stitch so far. I think I'll have it done pretty quickly. Write more later! :)

Berries thread pack

Berries thread pack, originally uploaded by nevillen.

The latest LHN/CC thread pack arrived yesterday from Handcrafts Online. The colors are very similar to Raspberry Patch. I also ordered the fabric, linen, and ribbon from Mary Kathryn. I'm sure it's going to be so pretty in person - I can't wait to see it! :) I'm thinking I may start the LHN kit (Where there is Life) I got from Elegant Stitch, or I may try to finish up that Pomegranate Sampler I started a few months ago. Hmmm... Decisions, decisions. :)

Raspberry Patch finished!

Raspberry Patch finished!, originally uploaded by nevillen.

I got this finished up last night! I'm so happy to have it done! It was a fun project! Here are the stats...

Pattern: Country Cottage Needleworks - Raspberry Patch.
Fabric: 32 ct. R&R Sheeps Straw Linen.
Threads: DMC, Weeks Dye Works, and Crescent Colours.

Started 8/26/06 - Finished 9/18/06.

Now I'm trying to decide if I should finish something I've already got started, or start something new?? :) Maybe I'll do both!

Raspberry Patch as of 9/16/06

Raspberry Patch as of 9/16/06
Originally uploaded by nevillen.

I've been stitching tonight! The baby fell asleep around 8:30, so I decided to stitch for a little bit. Raspberry Patch is almost done. I just have to do the border now. Why didn't I do that first?? Oh well! If my blog entry looks funny it's because I'm doing it through flickr. I decided to try it out to save a step! :) Write more later!


edited to add: Matthew slept all night - 10 hours! I couldn't believe it! :)

I Went to a Stitch-In!

I decided after my crazy morning yesterday I was going to get out of the house! When dh came home yesterday I left him with the kids and went to Lasting Impressions in Dunedin. There were about six or seven other ladies there and they were all so nice! It was great to get out and be around other people that I have something in common with! I stitched a little more on Raspberry Patch...





And picked up a few things...





I got Birds of a Feather Alphabet Sampler for only $1! I also got The Goode Huswife's A Quaker Four Corners Sampler, Country Cottage Needleworks A Place We Call Home, and a pack of needles. :) It was definitely a good night and hopefully I can go back next week! Write more later!

My Crazy Life!

Ok, I know I signed up for it, but sometimes my life is just crazy!! It's my fault, I woke up late again! Dh tells me it's 7:00 get up... I end up getting up 20 minutes later, and then I have to rush! I'm getting Bradley's clothes, my clothes, throw my hair in a pony tail, brush teeth, baby's crying, make Bradley's lunch, get him cheerios, make bottle, Jake wants to go with me, get him dressed, find shoes, finally pick up poor crying baby, feed baby, while feeding baby put Jake's shoes on, lay baby down to brush Bradley's hair. Whew, makes me tired just reliving all that. Right at that moment my mom comes in and picks up the baby who of course is crying again. She offers to finish feeding him and watch him while I drop Bradley off at school. The moral of this story is - get up on time!! :)


Anyway, enough about that! I knit some more on my sock, but it had ladders, and wasn't pretty. I think it was because I was using 4 needles instead of 5, which is what I'm used to. So I started over...



See those ugly lines? Those are ladders, not pretty!



My new start - so far no ladders.


I did work on Raspberry Patch a little bit this week. Mostly while in the car on the way to and from the in-law's this weekend.





The picture doesn't do it justice, it's really coming out pretty! Matthew is now eight weeks old! Time is flying! He is sleeping more at night about six hours at a time and then about fours hours after that. That's probably why I'm having trouble waking up in the morning... I'm not used to having so much sleep! :) Here's a couple of the latest pics of him...




Hanging out in his Boppy.



Holding on to his pacifier.


Well, that's all for now. I've been pretty busy working for my brother. I'm trying to get all his accounts balanced, bills entered, and next is going through his expense receipts... fun, fun! It's coming along though. I love the work, it's just not always easy finding the time to do it. Speaking of work, I'd better stop goofing off and get some done! :) Write later!

A Little Knitting...

I found a small yarn shop (Stitch Worm) not too far from my house. I was looking for sock yarn and didn't see any. Just as I was about to leave I saw a basket of Trekking XXL. I found a pretty ball and started on some socks when I got home. Here's a pic...



Trekking XXL color #160 on size 1 dpns.


I also received a little stash in the mail from Elegant Stitch today. I got the LHN kit "Where There is Life." It's so pretty and all the proceeds go to charity. This isn't the greatest picture (pretty blurry), for a better pick click here.





Well, not much going on here. Matthew actually slept almost five hours at a time last night! That was nice! He's seven weeks now and getting so big!








Well, speaking of the baby - he just started crying, so I'll write more later!

More Raspberry Patch

I got a little more done on Raspberry Patch today. It's coming along so cute! :) I just love the colors!



LHN Raspberry Patch - Stitched on 32 ct. R&R Sheep's Straw Linen.


The party went fine - Chuck E. Cheese's was crazy!! I was exhausted when we finally got home. The kids loved it though. They had a blast eating pizza, cake, dancing with Chuck E. and playing a ton of games!



Bradley and Jake eating cake.



Jake opening presents (Dora Chutes and Ladders).



A quiet moment with Daddy and Matthew.


Matthew was very fussy all day yesterday. I am supplementing formula with nursing during the day. So I switched bottles and formula and he seems to be doing much better today. Hopefully he keeps doing well with the change.


I organized my room a little. It's hard not having my house where I had my china cabinet filled with cross stich and some china, but mostly stitching! :) So I turned some shelves I had with some baskets of stitching stuff so I can see it from the computer or from my bed. I put a basket of my needlerolls and fobs on it and a couple of framed pieces. The others are back in Georgia. Here's a couple of pics...



Click on the picture so you can see what's in each basket. :)



A close up of my needlerolls and fobs (mostly Shepherd's Bush).


Well, that's all for tonight! It's past my bedtime! Write more later! :)

Raspberry Patch

I started Raspberry Patch earlier this week. I haven't gotten to stitch much, but I am enjoying it! I'm loving all the new designs by LHN and CCN. I got a couple more in the mail this week from Handcrafts Online. Very fast shipping once again! Thank you Mary Kathryn! :) First a pic of my CCN Raspberry Patch WIP...



Country Cottage Needleworks Raspberry Patch - Started 8/26/06.


And now the stash...




LHN Lucy Fairchild and Pear Tree Inn w/Crescent Colours and 28 ct. Light Mocha Cashel.


I also stopped by Michaels today - they had the cutest little cases. I thought they would be good to hold WIPS or stash. Here's a pic...



Closed.



Open.


I'm so glad today is Friday. It's been a long week. I didn't work too much (about 15 1/2 hours), but just keeping up with the kids and housework along with getting up all night with baby has left me so tired! I'm hoping he sleeps good tonight. I don't know what I'll do when he actually starts sleeping more than three hours at a time! :)


Tomorrow is Jake's birthday... he'll be four! It's so hard to believe! We're going to Chuck E. Cheese and I'm getting him a Spiderman cake. I'm sure he'll have a blast! All the reatives will be there, times like this make the move all worth it. It's so nice to have family close by!



Jake - the almost birthday boy!



Matthew - finally asleep tonight - for how long, who knows?? :)


Well, I'm either off to bed or off to stitch a little...we'll see which one wins. :) Unfortunately I'm guessing it will be sleep. Write more soon!