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.

Camp Gottastitch

Do you ever have the feeling you've just Got to Stitch? I don't know anyone like that myself (sarcasm). If you are one of "those" people you might be interested in Camp Gottastitch which is being held November 6-8 at Mel and Mary's Cottages in Charm, OH. It's about 1 1/2 to 2 hours northeast of Columbus in the beautiful Amish country. You can register online at
http://www.campgottastitch.com or at Cross My Heart in the Kenny Centre Mall in Columbus. The cost is$369 per person and is all-inclusive. This includes 2 nights at the cottages, 2 breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, camp kits, games and door prizes. There are many shops in the area to add to the fun. Fifty dollars is due at registration and then you can make payments until October 17th when the final payment is due. I haven't planned yet on going but as the time approaches I may change my mind. It's being held by Cross My Heart in Columbus. I absolutely love their shop and this is the 12th annual camp so they've probably worked out any "bugs" that some retreats may have. If you have any other questions, let me know or call CMH at 614 442 0820 for more info.