End of the Year

I can't believe it's been a month since my last post. Well, the only excuse I can give is the truth: I've been busy! My daughter and two granddaughters have moved back in. I enjoy have the little ones so close by and love them so much, but it is a lot of work and a big change. I don't have a lot of the quite time I had before to just sit at the computer, upload pics and post cute stories. I barely find time to stitch.
I also had a cold that lasted several days. Last weekend I went to Cedar Lakes in Ripley and took some great surface embroidery classes. The weather wasn't too bad but after the first night we woke up to snow and some car windows that were frozen shut. I also woke up that morning with a slight sore throat, but the chai that Jill brought was nice and warm and extremely soothing. That night, however, it broke out into a full-blown sinus, head cold. Sunday morning Becky went to the store for me and I took some liquid cold medicine. It took the edge off but I really felt horrible the rest of the day.
Sunday afternoon I left Ripley and was on my way to visit my sister, Brenda, in Dunbar. I was just about to her exit and she cancelled on me. Not sure why but I just headed on home. I got a little more than half-way there and the engine in my car died. We got it towed home and after having the mechanics look at it realized the whole engine needs to be replaced. Not a good thing to happen any time, but even worse just before the holidays. Guess it will be a light Christmas.
This weekend we had our TANA Christmas party on Saturday. It was totally amazing! The food was Italian and delicious. I think I got the best gift of the whole exchange. It was made by Rachel Craycraft. It was a beautiful basket and she had stitched a wonderful oval flower arrangement on it. Inside was a hardanger needlecase and an embroidered scissor case. Absolutely wonderful! I got my picture taken on Santa's lap which hasn't happened since I was just a toddler. The table favors Becky and Rick made were great, too.
After that party, I had to go to my niece's 17th birthday party. Pizza and cake make a great party as well.
Today, we went to church and listened to a guest speaker, Willard Willis. He writes books as well and told us today that he has been preaching and traveling for over 50 years. He does a great sermon. Afterwards we had a wondeful dinner. We are baptists so you'd have to just expect great food would be involved.
So, this evening we finally put up the tree and decorated. Emma just went to bed so Phoebe, Alyssa and I are going to attempt to make an edible gingerbread cake. It will surely not be as lovely as the one Marsha brought to the TANA party, but we will have fun nonetheless.
Sorry there aren't any photos with this post but I do have a lot of them to add and hope to do that soon.

Craft Fair Ideas

I went to the Boyd County Middle School Arts and Crafts Fair last weekend and jotted down several ideas for things I could do myself. This is just a practice piece but it's turning out nicely. I discovered some mistakes and ways to do things differently so the next one should be easier and quicker. (Let's hope.) I love Christmas and want to decorate using many hand-made projects. Of course cross-stitch is my favorite but some of those projects take more time. This project and the one in my last post work up fairly quickly. I have several more ideas and hope to get them started and finished soon.

Football

Are you ready for some football? I always am. I love watching Big Ben and the Steelers play. I didn't finish my Promise Piece this year and I didn't win a helping hand frame weight so I had to make my own. I found this fabric that I was planning on using for something else and it just caught my eye and the wheels started turning inside my little brain and...VOILA!...a frame weight.

I think even Ben would be proud of me. (Actually, he probably wouldn't give a s*&^ one way or the other but a girl can dream, huh?) Anyway, it holds the frame down as required and that is all that really matters anyway, isn't it?

I started working on some Christmas pieces as well. These aren't cross stitch related but they are hand-stitched anyways. I found these fabrics at Hobby Lobby and they just called out to me and desperately needed to be used in a project of some type. I think this works pretty well. I think Nick and his dad are going to work on making stained dowel rods with decorative end pieces for this and another project. Hope they finish them before the holidays.

Stitching Related Activity

I had so much fun last night with Debbie and Becky but I really got in trouble when I got home. Nick was asleep and Randy was about to go to bed so they were ok with the fact that I got home late. My friend, Bella (my pet rat) however, wasn't so happy. I usually feed her a yogurt treat around 9 and when I didn't get home until almost midnight she was a bit upset with me. Here's how the conversation went:

Jan: Well, hello Miss Bella. Are you ready for your night treat?

Bella: Yes. Where the h*** have you been?

J: I was out with the girls.

B: You were out with the girls until almost midnight?

J: Yes

B: Doing what?

J: I can't tell you. It's a surprise.

B: You have a surprise for ME?

J: No. It's a surprise for my stitching friends.

B: Then why can't you tell me?

J: Because you might tell someone.

B: You are such an idiot. I only talk to you and it's only in your mind.

J: Well, some of my friends might be as crazy as me and they might hear you.

B: (Good Lord) Alright Well give me a hint.

J: It is a Stitching Related Activity.

B: I probably could have guessed that much all by myself. Even with the mind a size of a rat, I had that much figured out. More info needed. And, why until almost midnight.

J: We went to Hobby Lobby first and then ate out at a Mexican restaurant.

B: Did you eat out just with Deb and Beck?

J: Yes.

B: Noone else?

J: Well, there were two very handsome men in dark blue uniforms from the police department but they ate alone. We just enjoyed the view. You know, men in uniforms.

B: Yes, I know what you mean. Go ahead.

J: OK After we ate we went to Debbie's and started working.

B: How do I know you were really working at Debbie's?

J: We took pictures.

B: Can I see them?

J: Sure thing. Here's the first one:

B: That doesn't even look like you and if I do say so myself, that does not look like a Stitching Related Activity.

J: Well, it is me and it is a SRA.

B: Prove it.

J: OK. Here's another picture:

B: OK. That sure does look like you but it still doesn't look like a SRA. What does hammering into a piece of plastic have to do with stitching?

J: Well, stitching involves placing thread into holes in the fabric. Maybe we are stitching something through the holes I'm making.

B: I don't believe that at all. Where's my yogurt snack?

J: Here you go. Can I go to bed now?

B: No. I still don't believe you were stitching and still don't believe you were with Becky and Debbie. Do you have more photos?

J: Of course. Here's another one:
B: That is Becky alright. She's so pretty. What is she doing? Is that rice?

J: Yes, that is rice. I can't tell you what she's doing.

B: Right the crazy mind reading thing. You aren't doing very good at convincing me you were actually doing something productive instead of coming home on time and feeding me my snack, which was delicious by the way. Thank you very much.

J: You are welcome. Would you like to see another picture?

B: Of course I would. I have a feeling there is much more to the story than this.

J: OK. Here's one of Debbie:

B: That's not Debbie. She's taller than that.

J: OOPS. Well, that's me of course. I pushed the wrong button.

B: And what is that you are drinking at the SRA?

J: Uhh, root beer.

B: You expect me to believe that? I wasn't born yesterday. That looks like beer.

J: But you know me better than that.

B: You didn't come home until midnight and you want me to think you were just drinking root beer, hanging out with the girls, eating Mexican food?

J: Yes.

B: I still don't believe you. Where's the photo of Debbie?

J: Here it is:

B: She looks like she's as tired of listening to your story as I am.

J: She's tired because we were working late and I kept taking pictures. See how hard she's working?

B: Yes, and she actually looks like she is stitching.

J: She is. We were.

B: It's getting very late and I'm very tired. Do you have any more photos?

J: No. No, I don't. Not right now.

B: You DO! Show me!!!

J: I can't. After we give them away, then I'll show you more photos. I promise. Can I go to bed now?

B: Yes. But, remember, I am nocturnal. If I find a way out of this cage tonight, your secrets will be revealed to me!

J: You are psycho.

B: You are the one talking to a rat.

J: You are right. Good night.

Trick or Treat

We have a Hardanger Stitching Group as well as a Christmas Group, UFO, Sampler and Quilting Group. We do not have a Halloween Group. Oh well, there aren't enough hours in the day or days in the month to have one for everything, I guess. Since the show is over I've been working on my Promise Piece in hopes that I can finish it by the November meeting. I keep these small projects handy for when I'm in the car or waiting in the doctor's office. These are both Prairie Schooler designs. I love the books they are in. There is one for Fall and one for Christmas as well. Each leaflet has about 9 designs and they all use the same threads. They are small and easy to finish and with the limited number of threads, very affordable to do. I love them because they work up so quickly. I love it that I actually completed something BEFORE the holiday it was meant for.

Secrets revealed

These are the items I've been working on for a couple of weeks with Lanna. I wasn't able to show them before because they were favors for the ladies who entered pieces into the TANA show this past weekend. We all had a great time. The exhibit was beautiful, the food was absolutely fabulous and stitching with friends was as fun as always. I didn't get any ribbons from judging, but I did get 2nd place in Viewer's Choice for the Feed Bag Buddies. I was really happy about that. It's cool that the only stitched piece I have in a frame now has a ribbon.

Here are a few photos from the show:

Retreat

Everyone is having a great time, as usual, at our fall retreat at Cedar Lakes. The leaves are changing color so the scenery is absolutely beautiful.

We met some quilters that were here this weekend as well as meeting some very nice people at the blacksmith auction. Debbie, Glory, Marsha and I went. We all left with something very interesting to show.

And, yes, I did manage to get some stitching done. I started on the Blackwork Princess for Alyssa and make quite a dent in it. I also finished a scissor holder that I had stitched awhile back but had never "finished". I brought it to get some ideas from the ladies about how to finish it. They cut me batting and bought me fabric to line it. That motivated me to finish it for them so they could see it. I still want to put cording around the edges to hide the stitches but I will have to wait until I get home to get the matching floss.


Some people like to show and tell but not have their photo taken. I completely understand. Isn't the dragon beautiful?

c

Finishes

Tonight's the TANA meeting and I finally completed a few things for Show and Tell. I had finished stitching the nametag last week but had to put some fabric on the back to stabilize it. I used designs from two different patterns to do the black designs and then I couldn't find an alphabet that would fit in the space so I used graph paper and made up my own.

Another Penny Rug. There was a room full of people while I was assembling it and I wish I had been paying more attention. I would have put the black dot in the center. I may still change it. I'll have to think about it.

The lighthouse was just finished about 10 mins. ago. It's from a DMC pattern that was $1 you could send from a magazine. Lanna gave me this one. There are several lighthouses in the pattern but I want to do them one at a time and may not do them all.

Little bit of stitching

I don't have any stitching photos to add. I have finished 11 items but can't show them yet because they are secret gifts. I will show them after they've been given. I've only gotten a little bit of stitching done because the girls have been here since Friday and may be here for quite awhile so I'll have to work out a stitching schedule. They sure are a lot of fun to hang out with so I don't feel like it's a bad thing.
I love Autumn. This is my favorite season of the whole year. It's the only season that I think has it's own smell. The colors are beautiful and the air is cool and refreshing. Also, Thanksgiving and Halloween are my fave holidays besides Christmas. I love decorating for the fall with leaves, pumpkins, and all the scary ghosts and goblins. I love pumpkin bread and pumpkin pie. I know Winter is on it's way and that is my least favorite of all because my body reacts badly to the cold.
Nick and I went to see Zombieland. Woody Harrelson is in it and Bill Murray has a short scene or two. It was absolutely the funniest movie I've seen in ages. There were several times in the movie when the whole audience applauded.
I took Nick to get xrays on Friday morning. No breaks or fractures thank goodness. He has to take a week off of football and that really bothers him. They only have a couple of games left and he'll have to sit out the one next week.
I go to my doctor Tuesday morning to hopefully find out the results from the three MRIs I've had done. I'm thinking that the final diagnosis will be MS since that runs in my family and I've had problems for years. It could be something less but I've always done better in life when I contemplate and prepare for the worse, that way if it's anything else, well, all the better and if it turns out to the worst, then I'm ready for that. Just keep me in your thoughts and prayers and I'll keep everyone updated.

Emma and the dog

Phoebe took this picture and I just HAD to put it here. She took a few pictures of them looking at each other and giving kisses. For some reason, they both just turned like this and she got it on film. It's a great moment. Kids and dogs. Go figure.

Penny Rug

I thoroughly enjoyed our class at the TANA meeting this month, Penny Rugs. I started with the shapes called for: a nickel, half dollar and dollar (coin). I cut out several pieces but after attempting to assemble them, I found that the pieces were just too small. Maybe they were just too small for me. I think maybe I was stitching around them with too large a stitch. Anyway, Becky brought some large washers and she let me have three of those. They worked wonderfully! I will more than likely use this one as a trivet. Alyssa saw it and wants me to make one for her. I'm not sure what she'll use it for. I think she justs wants Mamaw to make her something.

I was going through some photos the other day and found one of Alyssa with a blackwork princess that I had stitched for her maybe a year or so ago. I had forgotten all about it. I hadn't framed it so it was probably just in a stack with other things. It was a very pretty piece and I remember that it didn't take too long to stitch. Well, I googled it and there it was! The exact pattern I was looking for so I got on Ebay, typed it in, and there it was! I got for $7.00 and that includes the shipping. Not too bad, huh? I have a few things on my stitching plate right now but I would like to start it and finish it for her by Christmas. I'm going to the MMNA Retreat next month so I may take it as my only project and try to finish it off over that weekend. That sounds like a workable goal to me.

I'm also working on a design. TANA has to complete a stitched piece of our logo that is to be done in a 3" circle that is done on a 5" square piece of fabric. It is going to be placed on the Tennesee Valley Region banner that is displayed at TVR events. I have the pattern for the logo because we make nametages with it on it. Our nametags are just basically stitched. For the logo that I have to make I would really like to make it a bit fancier. No, I'm not really a show-off, but I know that it will represent our group and so I want it to be special for that reason. I want people to look at our logo and know that we have some really dedicated stitchers. I have several ideas running through my little mind and several that I've put on paper. I really wish I still had PCStitch. That would make things so much easier. For now, graph paper is working fine.

Tonight a few of us are headed to Marnie's for happy hour before heading off on a shopping spree to the new Hobby Lobby. I have a list and cash so I'm ready to go. Look out Marnie, here we come!!

Watching them play

Nick loves playing with his nieces, Alyssa and Emma and they love their Uncle Nick. We had a cookout at Mike's house and Emma had to have her turn at playing with Nick. He has always gotten down on the floor and wrestled with Alyssa but for the longest time Emma was afraid of him. I think it's his deep voice or the growling that is always a part of wrestling. Well, she finally came to the conclusion that he wasn't really a fierce monster trying to do her physical harm and she joined in on the fun. I just love this photo because you can see how much love they have for each other just by the way they look at each other. It's priceless. That is one of my favorite things about children is how honest their eyes are when showing their feelings. It's almost magical.

Flower Biscornou

I got this pattern at Marnie's Christmas in July Stitch-in. (If I owe anyone for the pattern just let me know.) I made a few changes. The flowers were supposed to be done with ribbon but the ribbon I was using wasn't playing fair so I just decided to do bullion roses. For the stems I used the stem stitch. Ok, that's not so original but it works. Then, I found the button at Hobby Lobby. I played around with my own design for the back as well. I really enjoyed doing this. The biscornous are fun to assemble. Lanna and I saw a pattern for one in St. Albans that had, I think, 9 sides? Anyway, it looked interesting but the pattern was a little pricey just to learn how to do it.

This month our class is Penny Rugs. I saw the finished one on our TANA site and it looks beautiful. I think I've done them before but it's been quite some time ago so it will be fun to try it again.

At the moment I'm working on a silhouette pattern that I've already done. It was hanging in my downstairs bathroom. That one was in green but this one is black. Since I don't have to change colors it moves along quite nicely. Probably won't finish it before the next meeting but I'm not on any deadline.

Well, I guess it's off to bed to reboot for another day!

Small Projects

I actually haven't done any stitching on my large WIPs, but I have been able to complete several small ones. With Nick back in school I have a bit more time for stitching. The stitch-ins that we have helps a lot as well. The last Christmas stitch-in required that I work on something for Christmas (duh) so Lanna showed me how to make the spider to put on the tree. Voila! Christmas stitching project complete!
I'm also still going through the patterns and kits I got while in Nashville and have completed a set of scissor fobs. I'm still on the blackwork phase of stitching at the moment so now these are finished.
The next scissor fob is one that I had done in the past but lost in the fire. Since helping Lanna organize her storage room I found a few perks were involved. One of them was having full access to her patterns and supplies. So, she set me up with all the materials and I finished this one:I don't know that I actually have as many scissors as I have scissor fobs but that isn't the point, is it? I can change them occasionally and so, never get bored.

I've also been working on my family tree. When it's complete I think I'd love to stitch the names and dates as far back as I can find. Right now I'm working on my dad's side of the family (thanks Dad for helping!) and I'm back to my grandfather's grandfather who was a Sergeant for the Union in the Civil War. It's very exciting to find all the history of the people in my bloodline. I'm new to this and now I understand why every time I go to the library there are people there searching for their ancestors. I'm taking the easy way right now and just using ancestry.com but they have a lot of information available and organize the information quite well.

Nick had his first scrimmage game last night but they didn't keep score. They had the 7th graders play on one side of the field and the 8th graders on the other. Nick was in on several tackles. He says this is his best year yet. I think part of the reason is that he is in the best physical condition he's ever been in. He had a growth spurt and is now much taller but hasn't gained more weight. He is looking forward to the season getting started and wearing the jersey of The Fighting Tigers! I need to get an Ironton t-shirt and one of those comfy stadium chairs with the back on it. I'll be all set then!

Chatelaine Picture

I never could find the photo I had taken, so I just took another one. I think it looks better in person but that's usually the way it is with stitched items. I haven't gotten a lot of stitching done lately. I had Alyssa and Emma to stay overnight Saturday. I was so worried that Emma would have a hard time without her mommy but we kept her busy and made sure noone mentioned the word "mommy". We took them to Ritter Park in Huntington. I hadn't been there for quite awhile. They have added some new equipment since I'd been there. We had a blast!

Nick is playing football for Ironton this year. Since we moved he is now in the Rock Hill School District but we'd heard horror stories about the schools there so he decided to go to Ironton since his daddy went there. He looks so adorable in his uniform. When he was little I always called him "Mommy's little linebacker". Well, he's a head and half taller than me and he's now 14 so I can no longer call him that. (Out loud anyway.) Tomorrow is his first day in the 8th grade. it just doesn't seem like he should be that old. It was only a week or so ago that I was in the 8th grade. Well, it feels that way sometimes.

So, I made plans for that day. I'm going to go to Lanna's house to help her organize her craft room. We've been working on it for quite awhile. She has a very LARGE amount of crafting supplies. She loves stitching as much as I do as well as beading, crocheting, needle punch, etc. She used to own a craft shop so she has everything! We have been trying to get her organized so she can find things easier. She does like I do: if I can't find it easily, I just buy another one. She is having a stitch-in at her house on the 25th of this month so we are on a deadline now. I hope she got some of those plastic drawers with labels so we can start putting things away. We have piles all over the floor, couch, table and chairs in their categories. Now we just have to put them somewhere before we open any more boxes, bags or totes. Wish me luck!

Chatelaine

I've seen many beautiful chatelaines. I have one that I bought a few years ago that is just a long, pretty ribbon that I used to put my pins on. I wanted a much nicer one but really pretty ones are either too hard to find or too expensive. I'd rather spend my money on stitching supplies or events. So I just decided to make my own. I can't seem to find the photo I took of it so I'll have to add it later. I made it a little wider than some I've seen but I have a plan. I'm placing my pins in the hemstitched border that surrounds the edges. I'm going to use the center part sort of like a continuing scrapbook of stitches. Before the next meeting I hope to have a small section done with a blackwork design on it. I've been doing a lot of blackwork lately so that will mark this point of my life history.I will also work a pattern of a house, because we lost one and got another one, and a football design because Nick is playing and I just love football anyway. (Go Steelers! Go Marshall!!) You get the idea. I'm still working on that promise piece along with a few other small items. I haven't finished the August Monthly Mania. It's a lighthouse and I usually love to stitch lighthouses but I'm not really happy with the colors in this one. I'm doing it in the colors called for in the pattern and I guess that was my first mistake. I should have changed them to ones I like. Well, I'm almost halfway finished with it so I'll probably just finish it the way it is. Hopefully, September will be done before, you know, September. I love the class piece from last month and I work on it during football practice because it's so easy to take with me. I'm so glad that I took pics of Liz's piece at the meeting. It makes it so much easier to work on. Also, I have another blackwork piece (that's actually done in dark green) that I got at SAS and it's going to be beautiful. It is a Silkstone Design called Tasseled Trimmers. Along with the greenwork it also has some gold cross stitches in it. When I did the last blackwork piece it had gold in it as well and I thought I'd leave the gold out the next time I did one but everyone who saw it loved the gold in it so I guess I'll do it this way again.

Rain, rain go away

When it rains there are many things on my list of things that I can do inside. However, when the rain causes a tree to fall over onto the power lines and they shut off the electric so they can cut all of the branches down and it takes all day....it limits the TO DO list quite a bit. Nick and I tried to make the best of it, though. We had plans to leave around 2:00 to head off to Shawnee State Park to stay for the weekend at the lodge. With the roads closed we weren't sure how that would affect our plans. It quit raining, so our hopes were up. The worst part for him was not having the internet. I missed the TV or listing to music. He went back to bed when he realized we couldn't get out to go to football practice. I had to call Debbie and cancel our lunch date. We were going out to eat but I had made lemon bars to share. Sorry, Debbie. So, I got comfortable and picked up a book to read. I had packed my current stitching projects but my stitching finger started to itch so I put the book away and grabbed my Aztec Stitch Bookmark. I've completed stitching the square all around the edge, stitching the border around all the edges, and cutting and removing the required threads. That put me at the point where I had to do the aztec stitch around the remaining threads. I was about halfway done with that so I picked it up and started wrapping. When it was time to take a break from that, I picked up the book and headed off to bed, read for awhile and took a nap. Not bad for being flooded in, huh? Nick actually read a magazine but spent a lot of time texting his friends. Around 4:30 the power came back on and the power man let us know that the road was clear in one direction. Yeehaw!! We loaded up the car and headed out, on the road again. So, here we are. It's about midnight and after a great dinner in the restaurant and sitting out on the deck watching for wildlife, we had settled in for the night. I picked up the bookmark and just finished the aztec stitch. Now, all I need to do is the hem around all the edges. Hopefully, I can finish it by Monday for Show and Tell. This is the most stitching in a single project that is as small as it is that I think I've ever done. It is looking beautiful, though. And, it's a keeper. After working on it for this long and all the time and energy I've spent on it, I will use it myself. I will probably finish the book of ghost stories I'm reading before I get the border done, but I know I will be able to use it to finish the last Harry Potter book. I've read it before but we just saw The Half Blood Prince and I wanted to read this one again to refresh my memory. Well, I guess I should end this and head off to bed. We have a busy day planned tomorrow for hiking, fishing and swimming. Let's hope the weather doesn't cause us to change too many of our plans, but Nick and I always have fun and will make the best of it no matter what.

Two Large WIPs

OK. I'm going to show off my current WIPs in hopes it will motivate me to work harder on them. I absolutely love the greenwork Country Cottage. It will go in my living room behind the couch. I hope to work one of the other homes in the same book to have a pair of them. (It's a large wall.)

I love doing blackwork because when there is only a backstitch or half stitch the row is finished the first time and I don't have to cross back over to complete the cross stitch. This pattern took some getting used to because it has the backstitch with one thread, a half cross stitch with one thread, full cross stitch with one thread and full cross stitch with two threads. It is a bit complicated but it really makes a great difference in the shading while still just using one color.

The next piece is my Promise Piece, Mirabilia Winter. I chose winter because I knew it would closer to that season before I finished it. Yes, winter of THIS year. I have high hopes and great expectations!

I enjoy working on this one because there are large areas of the same color. I do not enjoy patterns that call for many color changes every inch or so. This one moves along pretty quickly as well for that reason. I have the other three seasons that go with it and I'm still trying to decide which wall to hang it on. I would frame all four the same way and just change them as the seasons change. Appropriate, huh?

Christmas Stitching

Yes, I know it's only July but I am working on my Christmas stitching. I made a needle-tatted ornament for the tree and will probably work on more at Marnie's this weekend. I still need to get some fabric stiffener, but the stitching part is complete. I bought a needle tatting DVD with my coupon at Hobby Lobby when I went with Becky and the girls and I'm glad I did. I'd done needle tatting before but it's been awhile and I had forgotten a few things. Also, the two ladies who teach the process are quite good at explaining so I learned a few things as well.I also finished another SAS goodie, the Celtic Tuffet. It was a bit difficult to assemble but the end result is quite interesting if I do say so myself.

I am still working on my Promise Piece but since it is a large piece I like to work on these smaller projects so I will have things finished each month. I like that feeling that I've accomplished something. When working on a large piece and even getting to stitch on it for a long time, I still don't get that same feeling as I do when something is "finished".

I just got the Feed Bag Buddies back from the framer but don't want to post a photo until I can bring it for Show and Tell next month. It was going to go in Nick's room since I made it for him, but we decided to hang it in the living room for now since it is the only large piece I've finished and framed for the new house. I'm anxious to put it in the show in the fall. I know I don't stand a chance winning anything for it if it's in the same category as Becky's Civil War piece, but I will still enjoy seeing it on display and having it judged.

Well, it's Monday so it is cleaning day. I always have to clean on Monday. I don't like to clean on the weekend when the house is full of "those people"*. Also, because I'd had Alyssa since Wednesday and we had too much fun to clean. I also went to the bible conference at my church all three days and the origami class at the library on Saturday, so that left little time in between as well. So, today is Monday, cleaning day, and here I am "wasting time" on the internet. Well, just leave me alone. I can clean house anytime today. Right now I want to spend some time with my family and friends sharing some small parts of my life. That's important too, you know. It's not like I'm just looking for any reason at all possible to not clean. Really. I promise.

*My family, of course.

Artist Trading Cards

Well, thanks to Cathy Vigor, textile artist from the Pendleton Art Center in Ashland, Ky, I have a new obsession! She was at our Monday meeting and showed us how to make ATCs. She is with a group of ladies that create these beautiful pieces of art on 2.5 x 3.5 pieces of fabric and swap them. I've already been brainstorming with ideas to create my own. I love lighthouses and blackwork so the design I'm working on now is a blackwork lighthouse I will stitch to fabric with lightning bolts in it. I think I'll call the series "Stormy Skies". It's a WIP so we'll see what happens. Me and the stitching girls have a SEP* schedule for tomorrow at Hobby Lobby using our 40% off coupons Becky gave us. I'm looking forward to shopping and spending time with the girls, like I always do, and then dinner after. I think it's interesting that we always have a meal included in our stitching ventures. It's a necessity I guess.

My current stitching sessions involve to pieces that I'm working on simultaneously. They are both done in hand dyed floss so I cut a length of one and stitch on one project. When that thread is ended, I cut a section for the other one and work that thread out. I know it's a bit complicated but I think I'll get them both done sooner if I do this. One of the projects is a kit I found in Nashville called a Celtic Truffet. I have to stitch the same Celtic design four times and then stitch each section together to make a pillow-like piece. It's a bit complicated to explain but when it's finished I'll post the photo. I like trying new things. The other project is a breast cancer ribbon design that I'm working on for Jill. It's very pretty. I hope she will let me use the pattern to stitch one of my own. I'm sure all I have to do is ask.

Most recently I finished the July Monthly Mania. I took it for show and tell at the meeting but hadn't posted a photo yet so here it is for all of you who didn't get to see it yet.

Well, I think that's all for now. We have internet at home but the connection speed is VERY slow so I now take my laptop to the Ashland Library and use their free WIFI to connect. Now, it's back home to reheat the roast I fixed yesterday and watch some shows I recorded while on vacation.

*stash enhancing party

Summertime

Like my friend Debbie, summer is not my favorite time of the year. I, too, despise the heat. There are a limited number of summer activities I enjoy which are camping, fishing and swimming. I haven't fished yet but have accomplished the other two. I also thoroughly enjoy sitting in the air conditioned comfort and stitching, but that's a whole other story, isn't it?

Ever heard of Alum Creek State Park in Columbus? Neither had I but it's beautiful. I just enjoyed spending some time there with my daughter and granddaughters. It's actually a resovoir but I just call it a lake. Camping there is a bit more costly than Lake Vesuvius which is where we usually go, but each campsite has a private section of the beach. That's way cool!

Over the July 4th weekend we took Nick and Alyssa to Carter Caves for a picnic and took a tour of the Cascade Cave. Allie loved it. I thought she would be afraid when they do the whole "lights out" part but she loved it. Nick liked seeing the bats.

Nick and I then camped for one night at our property out by Chuck's Lakes where we had the other house. We just stayed for one night but it was fun. I always enjoying spending time with Nick when he isn't sitting in front of his computer in his room. (and that doesn't happen often.)

Since then I've been stitching and trying to decide what to do with the yard when they finish cleaning up after the repairs to the hill. They are planting grass seed today so I guess that's a start.