I'm a Winner!

I was selected for the Liebster Blog award by Julie over at Julie’s Blog.  I would at this time like to thank Julie and whomever  it was that first thought of this award and the acad…. sorry I got a little caught up.

Liebster is a German word, meaning favorite, dearest or beloved.  The Liebster is awarded by bloggers to other, newer bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers, to spread the word and help the new(er)bies gain wider recognition.

The award comes with four conditions that each recipient must satisfy when accepting

1.        Choose five up-and-coming blogs (with fewer than 200 followers) to award the Liebster too.

2.       Show thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.

3.       Post the award on your blog.  List the bloggers you are giving the award too with links to their sites.  Leave comments on their blog so they know about the award.

4.       Share five random facts about yourself that people don’t know.

Well the five blogs I have selected are:

1.       Emma -  xxxstitching

2.       Chris – Chris Cross Stitch Mania

3.       MarchAnn58 – Stitching Again

4.       Jan – Stitching Cats

5.       Jackie – Scattered Threads II

The five random facts about me are:

1.       I met my husband/soul mate at the age of 12.

2.       I enlisted in the US Army when it was still the Women’s Army Corp.

3.       I have always wanted to play the piano.

4.       I always cry at sad movies, TV shows and books.

5.       I am afraid of rodents.

This was fun now we all know what time it is....time to make the little xxs.

MY MARCH TUSAL and THE GREAT SCISSORS SCAMPER

Today is the new moon and time for the March TUSAL.  Mine is being paired with another Annie Lee figurine that’s called “Bathing Mama’s Baby”.  This could have been a picture taken directly from my childhood down to the three little braids.  My TUSAL shows the finish of my soldier memorial with the metallic gold from the stars, the browns from “Random Threads”,  the blues from “His Name is Jesus” and the purple satin from my new start on “Spring Heart”. Wow what a month, I have had so much fun stitching them all.

As I was reading through several blogs the other day I found the most fun thing, thanks to “Mouse”, it is a Scissors Scamper that is being hosted by Inky over at “The Stamper’s Stitches”

http://thestampersstitches.blogspot.com/2012/03/great-scissors-scamper.html  

 Here are my scissors, I never realized I had this many.

The bigger orange ones were the work horses at my desk; they were used for everything and now are just part of the décor. They have been replaced by the gray/yellow ones.  The blue ones are my living room/stitching area work horses.  Pink- was a gift from DMC for participating in last years “Stitch Pink” program.  Golden-was a gift from my daughter a couple of Christmas’ ago.  The next are what I call my frogging shears with the little hook to clip stitches when the frogs attack. Last but not least is the newest pair that I picked up in Vegas last year that I absolutely love.  They are convenient and easy to carry with my current projects. So there you have it…my Great Scissor Scamper.

Well I’m off as usual to make some wonderful little xxs.  Thank you all for stopping by to visit and comment.

WELL THIS STITCHY WEEKEND (IHSW)

I continued to work on “His Name is Jesus” and I finished the first page.  I had just started the second page and the new start bug bit me and I had to see what this new chart would look like.

  It's what I think is a freebie from http://olgamaxden.blogspot.com/   I was directed to this blog by a friend and I am so sorry that I cannot read a single word but there are some of the most beautiful charts with these specialty stitches.  If and when I finish this start it will be for my daughter who loves purple.  I am attempting to stitch this with DMC 30552 (S552) satin floss.  Actually this is the second start of this chart, the first was on 28ct black Cashel linen and I couldn’t see the holes and got scared so I switched to 14ct black Aida.  I didn’t want to ruin the linen picking things out. 

In addition to the stitching I did some other stitch related tasks that I have let build up.  I went through and returned all of the floss colors I have used in the last three or four finishes to my stash boxes and updated my inventory, yes I keep an inventory of which colors I have.  They are mostly DMC but I do have a few WDW, Threadworx, Crescent Colors and The Gentle Arts.

Now this isn’t actually a figurine but it brought back so many memories when I first saw it I couldn’t help but buy it.  When my husband was stationed in Hawaii my now 26 year old was only in elementary school and the hottest shoe style was “Jellys”.  Talk about smelly feet, after a day at school and play I would have to clean the mud out of them every day but she loved them. The quarter is so you know that this is not the real shoe.

Well I hope everyone had a very good IHSW I sure did.  Thanks for stopping by and please come again soon.  Time to make the little xxs.

Just a short note to remind all that this is the beginning of the International Hermit & Stitch Weekend, for more info click on the adorable little crab button on my sidebar to the right.  (Yes, it's there you have to scroll down a little, see).

Also to highlight another of my figurines  “Personal Furnace”  I’m sure all you ladies like myself who are of a certain age understand this one.  However it is also how I felt yesterday because we reached 82 degrees here in Northern VA.  It is still officially winter but I have played golf in shorts, opened all the windows and turned on the fans to sleep by.  With the dry and very mild winter we have had I am predicting a sweltering summer. 

Here is what I’ve worked on lately, the first one is another finish “Random Threads” by Erica Michaels, and I found these little buttons at Michael’s the other day that fit with this piece.   Should I embellish or not?  What do you think? 

Also I have been working on “His Name is Jesus”. This is still the first page of the chart; I’m really enjoying stitching it and want to finish it before moving on in my rotation or I may just continue thru the IHSW.

Thank you all for the beautiful comments I love them so please keep them coming and visit as often as you likeJ

I’m off now to make some more wonderful little xxs.

MARCH WIPOCALYSE

I have so much to post, being a little under the weather I could only read blogs my brain was in a bit of a fog, but it’s better now, so here goes.  Here is a pictures up-date of all of my WIPs

In order from left to right, top to bottom is “His Name Is Jesus”, Rose Sampler, only one so far of the “Three Kimonos”, “African Women”, “Random Threads” (by Erica Michaels which was to be stitched on that blinding 40 ct gauze, instead I am stitching on 28 ct linen), only four of the six “Black & White” figures and last but not least “Champagner”. 

I have another finish to share; it is right off the Q-snaps so it isn’t ironed don’t look at the wrinkles, my “Soldier Memorial”.  I wanted to share the stitching part but out of respect I won’t show the soldiers name.

I wanted to also share some new stash I picked up at my LNS (In-Stitches Needlework) which by the way has a blog http://institchesshopblogspot.com/  on this past Sunday’s Nashville Market Sale.  It was so much fun to see all of the new charts, collect some freebies and door prizes, there was even a drawing.

These are from left to right and top to bottom: * Lets Sew- Ursula Michael-Imaginating Inc., A Wicket Accident – Avry TM, Mini Pineapple Stitches- Jeannette Douglas Designs,* Keep Love- Shepherds Bush, French Country Hobby Horse-JBW Designs,* Love One Another- Little House Needlworks.  * I think these were the new ones from Nashville.  As I was leaving the store some half price items caught my eye and I also bought The Drawn Thread Sampler of Stitches Part One (ABC) as I’ve said before I’m not a real big sampler person but this has a lot of specialty stitches which I like learning to do. 

Last night was stitch night at In-Stitches and I actually remembered to take a few pics of the shop before leaving, I’ll try to remember to get more the next time and may a few of the ladies I stitch with.

Well this is a kinda long post but that’s what happens when you stay away too long.  Well I’ll try to do better, I promise.  Welcome to my new followers and thank you all for stopping by.  I love reading your comments.  I’ll pick out another figurine to highlight next time.  Need to go cook something, I’m getting hungry and then to make some wonderful little xxs.

Something I had to share

I know this is very unusual for me to have two post in as many days but as I left you yesterday I was off to cook and clean before stitching.  Well I just wanted to share what I ended up having for dinner.  Now it didn't take all day and there wasn't a lot of work involved but man was it delicious. Chicken noodle soup is good anytime but this is the first time I have actually made it not out of a can.  It started with a packet of seasoning mix "Mrs. Grass Homestyle".  Instead of chicken breast (which I cook to DRY every time) I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs, sauteed in a little vegetable oil with onion and garlic powders. This was added to the pot of 8 cups of water, season packet (which included noodles, carrots and celery) and a couple cans of sliced mushrooms. TADAAAA!!!!

And of course a little stitching did get done.

Well you know were I'm off to now... you got it to make some of those wonderful little xxs.

PS: Welcome to my new follower and thanks all for stopping by.

Welcome March

This is how it looks when I go to Curves Zumba class, that’s me in the yellow of course.  Phew! I can’t keep up.  And you know there is always that one B__ch, person who likes to show off and the others who just do their own thing. 

These are another set of my Anne Lee figurines and that is my little story behind them they are called (1) “Stretch One & Two” (2)” Don’t Be Hating” and (3) “You Hungry?”   They always make me laugh.

OK so now let me get to my stitching updates, since my last post I have worked on the Rose Sampler and I am well into the fourth page. I love those little birds.  This is a hard chart to put down, I am not a sampler kind of person but the simplicity of this one just speaks to me.

I also worked on the African Women; I really love the colors on this one but it needs some sparkle I’ll have to think about what to do to make it extra special.

All of my give-away packages have been received even the ones sent overseas, that was quicker than I thought it would be.    My LNS  “In-Stitches Needlework” will be having a big Nashville Market event this Sunday, I can hardly wait to see all of the goodie .   Well time to take care of life’s necessities like cleaning and cooking and then the best part… making those wonderful little xxs.