tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78833923244153243412024-02-19T05:37:37.847-05:00My Life's a StitchMyLifesAStitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10759662056886022108noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883392324415324341.post-79400901103303505662010-10-28T22:10:00.004-04:002010-10-28T22:23:04.742-04:00Buckle Your Seatbelts!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Wuuuuzzzzuuup???? How you all is?? Yes, it's really me, and I'm really doing a post. :)<br /><br />I have been quite absent from the blogiverse the last month or so and I do apologize, but I just haven't been able to tear myself away from everything I've been doing long enough to sit down and post (or comment... but I have been reading!!!). It's been a sort of tug of war lately... "Hmmm.... shall I blog? Or shall I stitch (or play with pictures, or sew, or drool all over fatquartershop.com, or research a new sewing mashine... okay, and I will admit that 'Angry Birds' has had me in an iron grip the last few evenings)??" Anywho! Without boring you further with excuses or my internal bloggy dilemna, here are a few of the things I've been up to in the past month.<br /><br />Olga! She's done! And I love her!!! And she's finish finished! My first ever fall finish. Yay!! Check out the frame! I usually go for the much cheaper Joann's or Michaels frames (esp. with the fabulous coupons! You know me - El Cheapo Grande), but I could not resist the frame Paulette chose for her. I'm in love, I think. </span><p><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4070/5124847092_11930ae612.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4064/5124240631_08f3078b0a.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 375px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4070/5124847092_11930ae612.jpg" /><br />I also won a giveaway of a few charts from Natalie! I forgot to take a pic of the charts, so here's the </span><a href="http://natalie-astitchintime.blogspot.com/2010/09/how-bout-giveaway.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">link </span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">instead (click on the word link). I started one of the charts. I'm doing this over one on 32 ct. linen. I was hoping to have this baby finished for Hallowe'en this year, but, alas it is not to be. </span><p><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/5124847556_4aa27cd98f.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/5124847556_4aa27cd98f.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />A couple (few?) nights ago I started the first of the PS Folk Art Christmas ornaments. This one is the church. I just love this series, and hope I can get more than one of them done in time to put up on the tree this year. We'll see! </span><p><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1336/5124866390_9ae299b0d7.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1336/5124866390_9ae299b0d7.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><div><p><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I've also been busy with my sewing machine (hence the drooling all over the new one I want). I swear if it weren't for the thought of the expense of replacing windows my current machine would've been tossed out my craft room window on multiple {like, 100} occasions. Anyway, I made some camera strap covers for myself, and I made one for a friend of mine who is also a pic taking fanatic. I just love them! I don't know where I saw one on the web, but I did, and that led me to Etsy where there are some really gorgeous ones - for like $30!!! I did mention I'm cheap, right? </span></p></div><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/5124847130_ddf8dfa7a3.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 375px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/5124847130_ddf8dfa7a3.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><div></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I made my first ever scissors fob, and I love it! The ends are a little messier than I'd like, so I found a tutorial that utilizes a "tidier" method, and am just waiting on the package from Amazon so that I can get to work on making a few more. </span><p></p></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4147/5124847244_fa5d5d8227.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 355px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4147/5124847244_fa5d5d8227.jpg" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My dear friend and enabler, </span><a href="http://threadgatherer.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Deb</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> (rather, her blogroll), led me to the Moda Bake Shop site this past Saturday morning, and I found this great little </span><a href="http://www.modabakeshop.com/2010/10/fabric-ornaments.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">project</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> for ornament balls using charm packs. I showed Leah and suggested we should make some Christmas ornaments like this. She was thrilled, and insisted (honestly, it didn't take much convincing) that we make them that day. So, we did! These aren't done, actually... I'm still waiting for the modge podge to dry (I think I might've gone a little overboard, really) before I put on the clear coat, then I have to add their hooks and ribbons. Pretty easy project, and oh so cute! </span><p></p></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1356/5124240907_f6879fdd44.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 375px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1356/5124240907_f6879fdd44.jpg" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And what fall would be complete without some pumpkin patching?</span></div><div><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1087/5124242895_461e6606cc_z.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 354px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4086/5124243207_ff0076348f.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1087/5124242895_461e6606cc.jpg" /></span><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/5124242543_eb9d1925a4_z.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/5124242543_eb9d1925a4.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><div><div><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4108/5124849686_082fc01901_z.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1221/5124242219_0d294aff81.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4108/5124849686_082fc01901.jpg" /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Well, y'all, that's it for me this go 'round! I hope to be on the blogs more often soon!! Thanks for your patience with this slump I seem to be in!!!<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Til next time,</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Robin</span></div></div></div></div></div></div>MyLifesAStitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10759662056886022108noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883392324415324341.post-38696892857650055612010-09-19T21:20:00.001-04:002010-09-19T21:22:38.584-04:00Apple Picking... Without the Apples<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hi everyone! Long time no "chat", huh? </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I put off and put off posting in the hopes I'd have some stitching to show for the past few weeks... and well... nothing has miraculously stitched itself while I slept. I actually did start Olga, though! Yay me! But, Olga got hit with some frogs... I had to rip out everything I stitched, b/c I started too far to the middle and realized that I would only end up with about 1/8" on the opposite edge if I continued. I just wasn't paying attention because I was in such a rush to work on her. That'll teach me... well, it should teach me, but it probably won't, lol!! That was this past week on one of my lunch hours and I haven't touched her since. Poor Olga. Retract your claws dear Olga. I promise to take you to work with me this week.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yesterday, my picture taking friend Melissa and I attempted to take our two children (and our "dudes") to the local pick your own orchard for some apple pickin' and picture takin'. We came up with the plan early in the week and both of us spent the rest of the week plotting our photographic plan of attack. When we arrived, we were informed that the apples weren't ready yet... say what?? But your website says... (and the attempted 'from scratch' pie crust for use with said apples? Yeah. We won't talk about that m'kay?)... Ah well. We cut our losses and headed over to their berry patch.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I had two photographic lessons reinforced while we were there. 1) High in the sky sun is a photographer's enemy. 2) Never believe what the LCD screen on your camera is telling you - especially when you are standing in bright, non-shady, almost directly overhead sunlight. Ever. Just don't do it. Trust me. Why?? Oh. Well, hypothetically speaking (because I know this lesson already and would neeever allow myself to be tricked) you might look at the pictures you just took and think "wow, those are really overexposed." Then you might think "Wow, I'm a photographic genius! I'll fix this! I'll just drop my exposure compensation a few stops and all will be well with my photographic world again." And if you do that you might (okay, you will) end up with pics that look like they are properly exposed ("Oh, self... you are soooo silly! They just look dark on the screen b/c it's so bright outside!"), but in reality are nearly unsalvageably dark, and which can only be made "presentable" by applying some special effects in PhotoShop Elements and pretending you took the pics that way because you wanted to apply said special effects in post processing. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Anyway. Here are some pics from yesterday. Enjoy!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4104/5006637342_eeb3c3de99.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4104/5006637342_eeb3c3de99.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4132/5006024505_672d5a2d89.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4132/5006024505_672d5a2d89.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/5006025053_672fb8fc7e.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 342px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/5006025053_672fb8fc7e.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/5006638302_c3896ff24a.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/5006638302_c3896ff24a.jpg" /></span></a><br /><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4145/5006636716_a6e32b8b2f.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4145/5006636716_a6e32b8b2f.jpg" /></span></a><br /><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4152/5006024233_02c6bbaaa5.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 388px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4152/5006024233_02c6bbaaa5.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4110/5006637430_7ae7a8baff.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 497px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4110/5006637430_7ae7a8baff.jpg" /></span></a><br /><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4150/5006025967_fcdb8a8ecb.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4150/5006025967_fcdb8a8ecb.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Okay, that's it for me! Have a great week, everyone!!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">~Robin</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>MyLifesAStitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10759662056886022108noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883392324415324341.post-57939692893143113162010-08-29T23:50:00.003-04:002010-08-30T00:06:48.921-04:00New Beginnings<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hi there everybody! How are you? This seems to be a very busy time of year, doesn't it? </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We have two kinds of beginnings going on in our household. The first, and most exciting and important is that my baby is now a kindergartener. :) Lots of prep (like choosing the perfect dress for her first day of school), and nervousness (she woke up that morning and said she was sooo nervous and scared) beforehand, but she loves it. She has been so proud to bring her folder home everyday with a "green circle" on the daily calendar (indicating that she was a good girl all day). She loves her teacher and loves her new friends, and really <em>really</em> loves it that she is now "a big kid." You know me... I had the camera out while we left the house and waited for the bus. I took WAY too many pictures, and here are just a few:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/4939956053_d853a5dcb8.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/4939956053_d853a5dcb8.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4940542718_58c40711f4.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4940542718_58c40711f4.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4114/4940542330_3d8095e1a2.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4114/4940542330_3d8095e1a2.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4940543044_0d65ed2db4.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4940543044_0d65ed2db4.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/4940543564_144dd275ca.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/4940543564_144dd275ca.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />The other "beginning" (really... not sure it actually deserves to be called that) is that I finally got myself off of full auto on my camera last weekend! The hubs, girl child, and I went to a little field in our neighborhood and I took pictures while daddy & Leah ran around like fools and goofed off just to humor me and let me practice with my camera. I made a few REALLY stupid mistakes, but am very excited that I took the training wheels off a little bit and actually got some decent shots. Here are a few of my favorites:<br /><br /></span></div><div><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4940541052_2020e613eb.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 379px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4940541052_2020e613eb.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4939954557_9f78c49ee7.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4939954557_9f78c49ee7.jpg" /></span></a><br /><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/4939954735_082e11a39a.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 343px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/4939954735_082e11a39a.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/4939955273_7f74f85f8a.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 430px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/4939955273_7f74f85f8a.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4940540676_10fa22ed48.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 345px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4940540676_10fa22ed48.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4939954987_0f4c87db64.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 438px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4939954987_0f4c87db64.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />That's it for now... no stitching I'm afraid... I hear it distantly calling my name, but I've been so busy the past week that I haven't really been able to spend a ton of time on anything except maintaining day to day. And, I'm still pretty obsessed with the whole photography "thing" so it might be a little while before I really pick the stitching up again. However, I do have a bit of a crafty project brewing, probably for sometime this week. So, who knows... I may actually have some "product" rolling out of my craft room in the next post.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Thanks to all of you that commented on my last post! I got some comments from folks that I hadn't "met" before, which was very very cool, so thanks and welcome to you ladies!<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Have a great week!!!<br />Robin<br /></span><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>MyLifesAStitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10759662056886022108noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883392324415324341.post-81941685863575625652010-08-18T01:25:00.001-04:002010-08-18T01:26:21.422-04:00Stitching In Stasis<div align="left">Hi there everyone!<br /><br />Well, as you can see from the title of this post - ain't no stitchin' here. None. At all. For the last... week and a half? Two weeks?<br /><br />So, what have I been doing with my free time? Playing with PhotoShop Elements. Yep. I finally decided to bite the bullet and learn how to use the program so that I could quit my belly-achin' about all the pics I see from the pro-fesh-un-als (and non-pros, too!) that make me want to weep with envy, and drool all over my keyboard. Now, don't get me wrong. I got one of those million page long "Missing Manual" books when I got the program, and I did read it - somewhat. But I'm a hands on kind of learner so it wasn't really cuttin' the mustard, know what I'm sayin'? So, I did what any 21st century gal without a clue how to do something does - I went to YouTube, and watched hours of tutorials. There I learned about previously mysterious things like "layer masks", filters, actions, blah blah blah into the wee hours of the mornings. And when I was done there I searched blogland for some more help.<br /><br />Eureka!! Via The Pioneer Woman's site, I came across this blog:<br /><a href="http://www.coffeeteaphotography.blogspot.com/">http://www.coffeeteaphotography.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br />Oh my. There is a WEALTH (A wealth, I tell you!!) of information there for the new PSE user. And info isn't all!! This brilliant, awesome lady actually creates FREE actions that are usable in PSE (you aren't supposed to be able to create actions in PSE [an action is a recorded macro - no idea why Adobe calls it an "action", rather than a "macro"], which is one of the main differences between the el cheapo PhotoShop [Elements], and the full on [@$700!!!??!!!] PhotoShop)! AND, one of those free actions is the ability to create a layer mask on ANY layer in PSE (another of the key differences in the two programs). Score!!!!<br /><br />Anyway... let me rein myself in here... So!! I've been fiddling around, and here are a few of my recent attempts. Most of the before shots are SOOC (Straight Out of the Camera).<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><strong><em>Before:</em></strong><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4903551380_e6682afb87.jpg" /> <p align="center"><strong><em>After:</em></strong><br /></p><div align="center"><em><strong><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/4903554100_27658e3a2d.jpg" /></strong></em><br /><div align="center"><em><strong>Before:</strong></em> </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4903552640_c33c9e51f9.jpg" /> <strong><em>After</em></strong> <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(a quick note - the point of this edit was to accomplish something [near to] "tilt shift photography" - the point of TSP is to make what you've taken a photo of look toy like. I plan on taking more pics in the future with the intent of them being TSP shots, so hopefully those will be more obviously toy like, but for my training sessions I've been using pics I've already got): <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4080/4903553388_1b1da4dde6.jpg" /><br /></span></em><strong><em>Before:<br /></em></strong><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4902967561_9f56c8c488.jpg" /><strong><em>After: </em></strong><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4903553654_c906fc2acf.jpg" /><br /><div align="center"><div align="center"><em><strong>Before </strong><span style="font-size:85%;">(another quick note - this shot is not SOOC. This before pic includes the basic edits I've been making since I got the program): </span></em><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4903552842_dac16d4f32.jpg" /><strong><em>After:</em></strong><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mom2leah/4903553846/in/set-72157624625269429/"></a><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/4903553846_f7fd7f6b37.jpg" /><br /><strong><em>Before:</em></strong> </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4903552046_77f06603f2.jpg" /><strong><em>After:</em></strong><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mom2leah/4902965877/in/set-72157624625269429/"></a><br /><strong><em><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4902965877_287e60897e.jpg" /></em></strong><br /><br /><strong><em>Before:</em></strong><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4115/4903551118_480f2b5411.jpg" /><strong><em>After:</em></strong><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 494px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4095/4903551196_c22ca42187.jpg" /><br /><strong><em>Before</em></strong> <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(Yet another note - I did not take this photo. My DH did [gotta give credit where credit is due!].):<br /><br /></span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 375px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/4902883407_d75d9cdd23.jpg" /><strong><em>After:</em></strong><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 375px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4903469188_eb257b794b.jpg" /><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br /><br />So! There you have it! Hopefully this encourages someone out there reading this that it isn't actually terribly difficult to get really great results from a not ridiculously expensive photo editing program (trust me - if I can do it, you can do it!).<br /><br /></div><div align="left">If you are at all interested in photography and editing your photos, but don't yet have the know how, I would highly encourage you to explore YouTube tutorials, then go visit the aforementioned blog (there are a few others out there, but the one I listed is the one I by far got the most "juice" out of). It really is a lot of fun!<br /><br /></div><div align="left">Sorry no stitching this go 'round (and thanks for your comments on my last post)! I have been missing it the last few days, so probably will have something to show you next time.<br /><br /></div><div align="left">Have a fabulous week, everyone!</div><div align="left">Robin</div></div></div>MyLifesAStitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10759662056886022108noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883392324415324341.post-83153081140087658082010-08-10T21:45:00.004-04:002010-08-11T09:56:28.106-04:00Touch & Go<div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hi there everybody! This is going to be a quick - a "touch & go" - post (see the end of this post re: "touch & go")...</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Not much going on, really, pretty much just day in day out kind of stuff... Leah is getting ready to start kindergarten in a couple weeks, so we're starting to get prepared for that. She's very excited to finally be able to go to "big girl school". </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />I have recently been bitten by the PhotoShop (Elements) bug... again - i.e. I've been drowning myself in tutorial videos, blogs, etc. trying to figure out how to use the advanced features to make my photos really fab, so there hasn't been a whole lot of stitching going on, but here is what I've done in the last few weeks:<br /></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Another Prairie Schooler Olde World Santa:</span></div><div align="center"><a title="IMG_6546 by Mom2Leah, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mom2leah/4880918474/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img alt="IMG_6546" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4880918474_8396d6dd54.jpg" width="333" height="500" /></span></a></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />And some progress on The Blessing:</span></div><div align="center"><a title="IMG_6543 by Mom2Leah, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mom2leah/4880922684/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img alt="IMG_6543" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4117/4880922684_dc3e03613e.jpg" width="500" height="333" /></span></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />I also kitted up Olga (Plum Street Samplers) over the weekend and can't wait to start it. Someone (who prefers to remain anonymous) RAK'd the pattern to me, and I was overjoyed because I was going to "be good" for the sake of my wallet and not get her right away. She is just adorable! I can't wait to have her out when fall comes! Speaking of Fall... is anyone else ready for a break from the brutal heat?? Yeesh!</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Okay, that's it for me (see, told ya it would be quick!), I'm going to get back to wrestling PSE into compliance. :) </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Thanks for all of your comments on my last post!! I am always so glad to hear from you all! The notification "ping" on my phone is music to my ears. :) I was caught up on commenting on Sunday, but have since fallen behind... sorry!!! I'll get caught up very soon, I promise! Oh! And I notice I've gained a couple new followers! Welcome! </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Okay, check ya later peeps!!</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Robin</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><br />*Touch & Go: Okay, I'm an Air Force brat, so when I was trying to think of a clever title to convey that this post would be a quick one, I thought of watching fighter jet "touch & go" maneuvers as a kid. Now we weren't usually close enough to actually see the jets' tires hit the runway, but usually we could see them dip below view, and then lickety split streak back up again. It was very very cool, esp. for jet obsessed kids. :) As kids it didn't occur to us that the pilots weren't just having some fun. These were real drills for pilots that could find themselves in a hostile situation at any moment when deployed.</span></div>MyLifesAStitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10759662056886022108noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883392324415324341.post-7869375561399125002010-07-18T21:59:00.001-04:002010-07-18T22:01:22.372-04:00An Oasis (and some progress, too)...<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hi there everyone! I hope you've all had a great week! Before I get started I want to say thank you so much for taking the time to read (and comment on!) my posts. I love hearing from you all, and knowing I'm not posting for the crickets. You all are such an inspiration to my crafty endeavors, and I am honored that talented folks such as yourselves take the time to tell me how I'm doing. That sounds so sappy, I know, but it's true! So, thanks! :)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Okay, the main event of this post will be the reveal of my "new" bedroom. Unfortunately, I don't have any before pics to show you. Basically, it was pretty boring. Builder almond walls, red patterned comforter and matching drapes (which my step-mom helped me make, so I felt a twinge of sadness pulling them down and sending them to Salvation Army), an elliptical machine, some of the hubby's weights, and other misc. "stuff" that somehow made its way into the room.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Well, I cleared all that out, painted, and this is what we ended up with (looking in from the bedroom door):</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 433px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/4806342031_a15788d91c.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4806342529_824d1f820c.jpg" /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The bed, with this original oil on canvas artwork in a fab frame (it was a total steal at $35!! And, it doesn't look quite this small IRL...):</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/4806342187_3ed81537a5.jpg" /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"My" corner of the sitting area (the rug in this pic is where the whole "design" started - it was a major "score" at Home Goods, and after I had it I based all other purchases, and the wall color on that rug. Recognize the trunk? It used to reside in my craft room. The rest of the house was cannibalized freely for this redo - including the round table in between the chairs):</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 360px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4806965530_bff354f407.jpg" /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Looking into the bedroom from the bathroom:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 441px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4806342699_1d1ef209a3.jpg" /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And one last shot... just because I love the blue of the wall against the white drapery & chair, and the gold framed mirror:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4123/4806342975_90d0bcee45.jpg" /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So, that's it! I really love the way it turned out. It is so calming and peaceful in there now... everything I always hoped our master bedroom would be. There is still more accessorizing to do, and I'd like to get more artwork on the walls, but I'm happy with it as is, so those other acquisitions will be moments of serendipity.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">What else have I been up to... Well, I did get a decent amount of stitching in this week, so here's where I am now:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 448px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4094/4806966620_5e72a69b5e.jpg" /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Next on the agenda for this piece will be the house - I did the tree first so I wouldn't have to count (and possibly have to frog) a lot of wide open space to start stitching the house. We'll see how far I progress in the evenings this week. Speaking of audiobooks (nice segue, right?) - I started listening to Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir yesterday while I was stitching. It is fantastic!! If you like historical fiction, you sould definitely read or listen to this book. Just wonderful! I have always liked this author's non-fiction histories, and her transition to fictionalizing the people and events she has researched so heavily is absolutely flawless. 5 stars all the way!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That's about all I've got for this week... I get to go get my baby next weekend, and cannot wait to see her!! When we get home it'll be time to get her ready for kindergarten. Wow... time really flies, doesn't it? It literally seems like yesterday (or last week) that I was bringing her home from the hospital.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Since I've already tortured you with a post and a half worth of pics, I figure what's a couple more?? I had my macro lens out today to play around, and here are a couple of the shots I caught: <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/4806343855_226b7173c1.jpg" /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 360px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4806967276_f04f8bcefa.jpg" /></span> <div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Have a fantastic week, everyone!!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Robin</span><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>MyLifesAStitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10759662056886022108noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883392324415324341.post-46295366727534983612010-07-11T20:14:00.000-04:002010-07-11T20:17:00.644-04:00Briing Back, Briing Back, Bring Back my Mojo to me, to me...<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hi, everyone! How's it going?<br /><br />Thanks so much for your kind comments on my last post. I can't tell you how much I enjoy getting and reading each and every one of them! I've been pretty remiss in my blogging responsibilities the last few weeks (sorry!), but finally caught up on commenting this afternoon. </span><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And, while I was catching up, I found two great giveaways - head over to <a href="http://threadgatherer.blogspot.com/2010/07/its-giveaway-time.html">Deb's </a>(her name is the link) if you haven't already - she's a great lady with a great blog! And when you're done there, head over to <a href="http://belfontenotes.blogspot.com/2010/07/egads-it-is-time-for-giveaway.html">Jan's </a>wonderful blog (again, her name is the link) for a chance to win some more goodies!</p>I can't quite believe it's been a bit over a month since I last posted - it doesn't seem like it's possible that that much time has gone by, but it has. Nothing bad has been going on, just busy... two kinds of busy, in fact. The kind of busy where you go to bed at night thinking "wow, today was a really busy day, but honestly... I have no idea why or what I did!" and the kind of busy where you're getting lots done, and are wishing there were more hours in the day!<br /><br />Not much time has been spent on stitching... okay, really, almost zero time. I don't think I've picked up my needle in about 3 weeks! Even when I have had the time, I have been completely unmotivated to even look at it.<br /><br />So, instead of new progress and new projects, I'm going to show you what I got done while Leah was gone last time, and what was done shortly after she got back.<br /><br />First up, my second completed Olde Worlde Santa ornament:<br /><br /></span><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/4784025961_0f4c900cff.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/4784025961_0f4c900cff.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />I did start a third, but decided no one really wants to see a small green blob of stitching... not a very interesting progress pic. I'm hoping to get all of this series stitched and finish finished by Christmas - that's a lofty goal for me!<br /><br />Next up is the quilt top I was talking about finishing. It is complete! I finished it while Leah was with grandma last time. First pic is the only star that came out with the points even remotely correct:<br /><br /></span><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4784733474_f40e1bf39b.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4784733474_f40e1bf39b.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> And, here's the whole thing:<br /><br /></span><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4078/4784733946_6e0b97e93e.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4078/4784733946_6e0b97e93e.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />I love the colors, and the contrast. I wish there had been more red and blues and less browns in this layer cake, but overall, I'm really happy with it. Now I just need to get some backing fabric, baste it, and quilt it. I should be able to get that done some time this decade, don't you think? I'd better, b/c I'm itching to rip into some more of the jelly rolls and layer cakes I've got, and (esp. with the quilts), I'm a one project at a time kind of girl.<br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Next up is my progress (sadly, not much to show...) on <em>The Blessing</em>. Here's where I was last time I posted:<br /><br /></span><div><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3305/4605541576_0a75f57186.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 311px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3305/4605541576_0a75f57186.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />And here's where I am now:<br /></span><div></div><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4784100851_2db28ea8ef.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4784100851_2db28ea8ef.jpg" /></span></a></div></div><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Last week and weekend was one of those running around like a chicken with my head cut off kind of times. My mom (aided and abetted by Leah) <strike>conned</strike> talked me into letting Leah come back for a bit longer visit before the end of the summer, so the week prior to the 4th of July weekend was spent frantically getting her ready for a 3 week visit (3 weeks!! WTH was I thinking??). Saturday, I drove her to MI, Sunday I drove home (9 hours each way), and when I got home started the real "work" of my annual home decor project. I decided to redo our master bedroom, and so, everything had to be cleared out so I could get to the walls to paint them. Monday I painted, Tuesday I finished painting, and the rest of the evenings this week were spent recuperating from all the chaos. Friday night the DH & I put everything back in the room, and set up the new furniture, then yesterday we went out to get things to "complete" the room. And, now it's as complete as it's going to be. I'll save pics til my next post (next weekend, I swear!) because I'm just now pausing to catch my breath.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Anywho, now that my "while Leah is gone" projects are pretty much complete, I'm really really hoping to be able to get a severe case of stitch a$$ for the remaining evenings and weekend I'm without my baby - and when I say severe, I'm talking so severe it necessitates a visit from some <strike>hot</strike> helpful firefighters to get me unstuck from my chair.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Speaking of "hot" and "firefighters"... I don't know about the rest of you, but it has been seriously HOT in my neck of the woods (Mid Atlantic) lately. So hot, people's dead deck plants have spontaneously combusted. I'm sooo not kidding. Here's a </span><a href="http://www.wtop.com/?nid=712&sid=1990483"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">link </span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">to an article about one such fire in my town. We actually tied a city in SoCal for the hottest city in the country one day last week. It was 106. Plus humidity (fortunately, not too high). Ugh! I don't really mind the heat usually, but good grief!! Even for me, that's a bit extreme!</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Well, have a great week everyone! I'm going to sign off and see if I can get the DH to make me something alcoholic, yummy... and frozen.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Stay cool!!<br />Robin</span></p>MyLifesAStitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10759662056886022108noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883392324415324341.post-76079195649008670222010-06-09T22:29:00.000-04:002010-06-09T22:33:58.585-04:00Memorial Day Part Deux - Cute Overload<div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>W</em></strong>uzzup my homeys?? Howz it hangin'? Are you ready for a pic heavy, word lite, cuteness loaded post? Good! Here goes!<br /><br /><strong><em>F</em></strong>irst up, the lambs. They were so stinking cute and full of personality this year!! No real narrative for these, but I did come up with captions. :)<br /><br /></div></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4053/4686987324_e7a4f17c0a.jpg" /></span> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> <em>Yeeeee-haw!!!! We're FREEEEE!!!!</em></span></p><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4686987400_c6bed239ab.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4686987400_c6bed239ab.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> <em>Holy sheep doo Sheeplets! What is THAT???<br /></em><br /><br /></span><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/4686987676_9561ee1577.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/4686987676_9561ee1577.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>I so tired... just 5 more minutes, then I play cute more, 'kay?</em><br /><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4686987526_545d144d89.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 308px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4686987526_545d144d89.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>What's up Doc?</em><br /><br /></span></div><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>T</em></strong>he little guy below had been getting shoved aside by the rest of the herd during feeding time, and as a result became so weak, he pretty much can't move. So, he's separated and getting some extra TLC. Including loving from Miss Leah.<br /><br /></span></div><div align="left"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4686988416_556bb2df1c.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4686988416_556bb2df1c.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><strong><em>N</em></strong>ext up, pics of Leah's very first "real, big girl" riding lesson. She was sooooo excited (can you tell from this pic??):<br /><br /></span><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4686353569_3706d3570f.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 393px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4686353569_3706d3570f.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><strong><em>S</em></strong>he did some practice in the indoor arena, then it was out the door to ride outside for the first time in her little life:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><br /><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4686353709_0f519441b5.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4686353709_0f519441b5.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><strong><em>S</em></strong>he did such a great job! I know I'm biased, but really... I've seen adults not steer and stop, then start again so well their first time out. It probably helps that a) she had been dreaming of that day for ages, and b) her brain is like a little sponge - all young and what not. ;)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Here are my two other favorite pics:<br /><br /></span><br /><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4686356041_fffb4dcf5a.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4686356041_fffb4dcf5a.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4686356107_59c12f3a2b.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4686356107_59c12f3a2b.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>C</em></strong>an you tell she was enjoying the heck out of it? She is still at grandma's (I get to go get her on Friday - thank GOD!!! I knew I'd miss her, but my my my...) and having a grand ole time living the life of a farm girl (stay tuned at the end of the post for "Leah's Theory of Good Farm Girl Living"). Riding every day, playing with the dog and cats and lambs. Every kid's dream, right?<br /><br /><strong><em>M</em></strong>ooooving on....</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4686988226_dc37854f59.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 426px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4686988226_dc37854f59.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> <em>Maybe if I close my eyes, she'll be gone when I open them...</em><br /></span></div><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>H</em></strong>ere's the obligatory shot of Leah's best buddy Razz:<br /><br /></span></div><div align="left"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4053/4686989698_11a15aff05.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4053/4686989698_11a15aff05.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><strong><em>W</em></strong>e wondered if he'd remember her again this year... sure enough we got there and after hugs and kisses for grandma, Razz was the first stop on Leah's "must do immediately" itinerary. He was eating his grain, so we figured that the likelihood he'd be interested in greeting her was slim to none. Ha! Goes to show what we know! She called him a few times, and over he came. Pretty cute.<br /><br /><strong><em>A</em></strong>nd what farm would be complete without flowers??<br /><br /></span><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4686988060_580b78f3b6.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4686988060_580b78f3b6.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Daisies aren't my favorites in the garden (Not that I don't like them! I do!), but I sure do think they're the happiest looking flowers!<br /><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4686354661_2e71874587.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4686354661_2e71874587.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> <em>Just a cool looking dead tree...</em><br /><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4686355717_24a464072e.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4686355717_24a464072e.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em> And my favorite early summer flower, the peony...</em></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /><strong><em>A</em></strong>nd that brings us to... "Leah's Theory of Good Farm Girl Living"....</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Let me set the scene. Per grandma's request Leah is helping in the barn by raking up the hay that got in the aisleway during chores. Our good family friend and farm helper, Marty, comes in and asks Leah how she's doing... and a theory is born:<br /><br /></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>Marty:</em></strong> How's it going, Leah?</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>Leah:</em></strong> Good.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>Marty:</em></strong> You're doing a good job raking up the hay... looks like you're turning into a pretty good farm girl, huh?</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>Leah:</em></strong> Uh-huh. (Looks up at Marty). Mr. Marty? When I grow up I'm going to be a farm girl, but I'm not doing chores and raking and all this other stuff.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>Marty:</em></strong> Well, then who will take care of the animals and the farm?</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>Leah:</em></strong> My servants.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>Marty:</em></strong> Servants? What servants?</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>Leah:</em></strong> My mom. <br /><br /></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div align="left"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4686355097_4f1d4ef5f1.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4686355097_4f1d4ef5f1.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /><strong><em>W</em></strong>ell, that's all I've got right now, folks! I've gotten some things done in the craft room, but not as much as I thought I would with my evenings being "free". But enough to make a pretty "busy" crafting post, so I'll save it for next time.<br /><br /></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>O</em></strong>nce again, thanks so much for your comments! I know you are all busy, so it really makes it extra special when I (maybe a tad obsessively) check for comments and see that I've got a new one. :)<br /><br /></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>H</em></strong>ave a fantastic week everyone!!</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Robin</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4053/4686987324_e7a4f17c0a.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div></div>MyLifesAStitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10759662056886022108noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883392324415324341.post-30225830284279112032010-06-02T23:02:00.003-04:002010-06-02T23:07:31.370-04:00Memorial Day Part 1 - The Outing<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hey there everybody!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Well, I am back from Michigan and I've gotta tell ya - we had such a wonderful, full weekend it's gonna take two (or more??) posts to cover everything.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Let's start with my day out with <a href="http://threadgatherer.blogspot.com/">Deb </a>and <a href="http://chocolates4breakfast.blogspot.com/">Terri</a>, shall we?? We were having so much fun together we only got one picture as we were leaving the last stop of the day:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/4665271344_f0fe3aa238.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 396px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/4665271344_f0fe3aa238.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> From Left to Right: Deb, Terri, Moi. A special "shout out" to Deb for allowing me to post her picture. She normally shies away from photo posting (I think it has something to do with the paparrazi) but graciously allowed me to post this shot so I could "prove" she was with us... thanks, Deb!! Are you happy with the way your pic turned out?? ;)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Seriously, though. These two ladies are fantastic! So friendly, and funny, and sweet, and stylish, and funny, and sweet... Did I mention funny and sweet? They are exactly as you would imagine they are based on their blog posts. We had so much fun chatting and laughing it up in Terri's car (thanks for driving, Terri!), there wasn't a single lull in the conversation, or any awkward moments - you would think we'd known each other forever... which makes sense, given we already were friends, don't you think? It was a great day, and they put the icing on the cake by bringing gifts just for me. :)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">First up is this wonderful pincushion and strawberry (with scissors!!) that Terri made for me:<br /></span><br /><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4664647411_ccd672eec4.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 337px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4664647411_ccd672eec4.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Aren't they darling?? Thank you SO much, Terri! Your creations are on my table, right where I can see and use them. :) Roscoe thought they were cute, too. I tried repeatedly to get this photo without his assistance (note his little paw pointing out the charms of the strawberry), but to no avail and so I decided to just go with it. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Next up is the lovely package from Deb (once again, Roscoe is delighting in my good fortune... or it might be plotting which items he'll confiscate for himself. And who could blame him??):<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 349px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4036/4664647165_0597ab310b.jpg" />She gifted me with this wonderful little tower shelf, and stuffed it with goodies! A sheepie scissor fob/ pin keep complete with scissors, a lambie covered measuring tape (and where might the measuring tape protrude from?? I'll leave that up to your imagination, hehe!), a delicious (blue to match my room) "rain" scented soy candle, some yummy fabrics in the same flavor as my room, and some sweet little blue buttons. Thank you, Deb!! These are gracing my room in very prominent locations!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Aren't these two just so kind? I think so, too.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We spent the day quilt shop hopping, and antique shopping. I got some really cute things!! First up, the antiques:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4664647273_149bd79673.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 361px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4664647273_149bd79673.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> I got this great antique walnut frame (Nice and deep front & back. Perfect for some stitchy piece), a large wooden and metal spool (wrapped with French General measuring "tape" - a find at one of the quilt shops - and some ric rac I found at the Antique Mall), a flower frog in a lovely bowl (thanks for finding this one, Terri!!), some adorable single serve salt & pepper shakers, a bone dish, a hemostat (gotta have that for those stuck needles), and a really cute little glass apothecary jar - it has this really cool rainbow sheen on the glass which made it especially irresistable (side note - while we were waiting in line, I was talking [with my hands, of course] and the lid on this jar flew off and hit the concrete floor. Miraculously, it didn't break. Note to self - no more talking while waiting to pay for something you're holding that is fragile!!). And, do you notice the little note pad? That was actually part of Deb's gift - I realized I left it out after I had all this set up, and just had to make sure it got included. Can you read what it says? "The bigger the handbag, the smaller your butt looks"!!! LOLOL!!! Love it!<br /><br />Next up, my fabric/ quilty finds:<br /><br /></span><div><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4664647485_4ffb7951c2.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 396px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4664647485_4ffb7951c2.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I am in total love/ fabric lust with the Fig Tree Quilt lines. Luscious. I wonder what I'll make??<br /><br />One last thing (even though it isn't related to the MI trip). I got back to work today and my friend <a href="http://melio-simpletruths.blogspot.com/">Melissa </a>brought me a gift from her trip to CA. She found these fabulous socks in Carmel, and brought them back for me:<br /><br /></span><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/4664647033_33174336e1.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 254px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/4664647033_33174336e1.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Are they awesome or what?? If my toenail polish wasn't drying, they'd be on my tootsies right now. :) Thanks again, Melissa!!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Well, that's it for tonight! Stay tuned for Memorial Day Part Deux (to include farm pics, and pics of Leah being a farm girl and during her first "real" riding lesson, flower pics, etc.).<br /><br />G'night!!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Robin</span></div><div></div></div></div>MyLifesAStitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10759662056886022108noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883392324415324341.post-14919750750409836562010-05-26T19:01:00.003-04:002010-05-26T19:24:00.802-04:00Move Along Folks; Nothing to See Here, Nothing to See...<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">No really... nothing to show for my (nearly 2 week?) hiatus. This'll be quick. :)<br /><br />I've done a tiny bit of stitching, some more piecing on my quilt, and - most importantly - bid a fond (and incredibly teary... okay, I wept like a baby multiple times during the finale) farewell to the show that was the ONLY reason we got cable TV - LOST. Last week was incredibly consumed with the build up to this event. It's a little pathetic, really... Tuesday was the penultimate episode, and when it was over I was "done" for the night... couldn't think about anything else. Thursday evening I actually paid money to go sit in a movie theater and watch an interview with the creators/ head writers of the show and, again, was useless for the rest of the night (are you getting an idea of my level of devotion to and love for this show??), then Sunday from 7pm until 11:30pm I was on the couch with lots of tissue watching the recap special and the final broadcast. If it weren't for the Redskins (DH's blood runs burgundy & gold) I would happily call Comcast and pull the plug right now. :)<br /><br />But! Now I'm back, I have my Tuesday nights back and I can promise you this - there are several great posts headed your way after the Memorial Day Weekend.<br /><br />*SPOILER ALERT* - Don't read further if you like being surprised by blog post topics. :)<br /><br />Coming Soon to a blog near you (uh... this blog):<br /><br />- Headed to MI to see my mama over the Memorial Day Weekend - farm pics and Leah pics will be included<br /><br />- On Saturday I will spend the day antiquing and quilt shop hopping with our beloved and FAB-u-lous bloggers <a href="http://threadgatherer.blogspot.com/">Deb</a> and <a href="http://chocolates4breakfast.blogspot.com/">Terri</a> - recap to follow (to include any hilarity that ensues)<br /><br />- Stitching progress<br /><br />- Quilt progress<br /><br />- A couple "other" projects I've worked on recently<br /><br />Have a wonderful Memorial Day and remember to take a moment (or more) to remember those that have died to protect our right to barbecue, wear cutoff jeans, speak our minds, worship as we choose, and all the myriad other everyday little things we can sometimes take for granted.<br /><br />Peace Out my homeys! See you on the flip side!<br />Robin</span>MyLifesAStitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10759662056886022108noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883392324415324341.post-34567075807070322142010-05-14T00:05:00.002-04:002010-05-14T00:16:16.773-04:00Roses are Pink, Frogs are Glass & Stitching is Last<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>H</em></strong>owdy everybody! How are you all doing? My new phone (HTC Incredible... it is awesome!! If you're in the market for a VZW phone I HIGHLY recommend it!) is supposed to have helped me stay on top of reading and commenting on blogs... but apparently I don't have quite as many empty moments as I thought, b/c I feel like I'm just as big a stranger to the blogosphere as ever! I need to get caught up with y'all, and I will soon, I promise!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>T</em></strong>hanks so much for the kind wishes for Leah's birthday!! I read each and every one to her (and dispensed second hand hugs as requested), and they all made her feel so special and cared for... thank you for helping me make her birthday wonderful for her!! I can't believe my baby is 5 and goes to "big kid school" in the fall. Time really does fly by, doesn't it?</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>I</em></strong>'m struggling to pinpoint a "good" starting point for this post, so I'm just going to jump right in... I apologize in advance for the stream of consciousness (Robin style) you're about to be subjected to! This could get scary folks, so buckle in!!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>U</em></strong>mm... yeah... that sounds cool so I'm leaving it in, but really we haven't had anything terribly exciting going on. Just your normal every day run of the mill "stuff"... Let's see, how to recap...</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>W</em></strong>e had Leah's birthday party this past Saturday, which was a complete success. I don't know what I was thinking, though! 15 kids in my townhouse!! (It's generously sized for a townhouse, but add their parents to the mix and it was standing room only!). I remembered pronto why I am sticking with my decision to have one child. By the time the third kid arrived I was ready to come unglued! Not because they were being bad or anything, just the sheer volume of their little voices! Oy! Then they got hopped up on sugar and dear Lord I was ready to reach for the vodka... er, or I would have if we had any in the house. :) Seriously, I don't know how you ladies with multiple children do it!! You have my utmost respect and admiration, you truly do. So, basically what I'm saying is: Birthday parties in my home - Most. Effective. Birth. Control. Ever. And really, the world is a much safer place if I limit my offspring to one, m'kay (because of me, not because of my offspring)?</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>W</em></strong>e've had something of a rainy/ chilly spell this week, which has meant not a ton of outside activity going on. However, I did manage to grab a couple of really nice shots of one of the few roses I have blooming (this bush really needs to be pulled, but I just don't have the heart to do it... yet) during a brief hiatus in the gloom the other evening:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1201/4605603308_0b5f3c5d27.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 494px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1201/4605603308_0b5f3c5d27.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1235/4605603000_998019804d.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 364px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1235/4605603000_998019804d.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>I</em></strong> love roses!!! Especially a lot of the David Austen roses. This is 'Heritage', and when it was healthy it bloomed profusely in several flushes throughout the summer (one year it even had a small bloom in mid-October!) with very little extra care (all I did was dead head, and give it some rose food every 2-3 weeks) I really wish we'd decide how we're going to finish our back yard so I can get a garden plan going back there! We are in negotiations amongst ourselves, and once we decide I'll be sure to share some before and afters with you all. Whether you want me to, or not! :) Needless to say, the beds will include roses. I can't wait!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>O</em></strong>h! Mother's Day! I hope you all had a wonderful day and that your families lavished you with affection and gratitude for all that you are for them every day of every year!!! We had a pretty quiet day which was nice. We made a trip to our local Home Goods/ TJ Maxx (I love me some HG/ TM!!!) in the afternoon so that I could try to find a replacement for my beloved fuzzy white bathroom rugs... why would I need to do that you ask? Well, let me tell you. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>M</em></strong>y dear darling (dramatic) Leah was dancing around my bathroom artistically twirling her little (lightweight!!!) sweater around her and singing at the top of her lungs. I had stupidly left some bottles of nail polish on the side of the tub (you know where this is headed, don't you). Somehow the sweater made contact with a bottle of OPI Mother Road Rose (great color, btw) polish, knocked it off the WHITE TILE tub, and onto the WHITE TILE floor and of course, the neck of the bottle snapped off and lo and behold, we had dark hot pink nail polish everywhere (tips for removing said nail polish without ruining the finish on my tile are welcome), including on my fuzzy white rug. :( Ah well, accidents happen. Oh, but the fun part was when Leah stepped in it while trying to clean it up, then proceeded to make little pink dots all around the bathroom as I tried desperately to get her to "Stop! Moving!" I swear you can't make this stuff up! I can totally imagine how comical we would've looked to someone watching the scene unfold, lol!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>A</em></strong>nywho! That resulted in a trip to Home Goods (you feel sorry for me, don't you) where (amongst other "scores") I found these little gems (aka Mother's Day gifts):</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></div></span><div><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1103/4604988031_c1f11b7631.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 330px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1103/4604988031_c1f11b7631.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1245/4605603810_be87aa50a8.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1245/4605603810_be87aa50a8.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><strong><em>A</em></strong>ren't they great?? They're heavy as all get out, and so rustic looking, which I love. They weren't very expensive and so they came home with us. I actually got two of the smaller one, but figured a pic of just one of them would get the point across... did it? The two smaller ones were labelled as candle holders, but the bottoms are pretty concave, so I'm not sure how well that would work. I'll figure something out. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>B</em></strong>ut my best mommy's day gift came much later in the day. Let me back up... Leah has been leaving her room to go to sleep in our bed lately, and we haven't quite managed to break her of the habit. So, Sunday night I brought a load of laundry up to my room to fold and put away, but when I got up there Leah was in our bed (I thought) fast asleep. So, I put the basket down, whispered to the kitty that I'd put the clothes away tomorrow night, and went back downstairs. My DH came downstairs a few minutes later and told me to "go check out what Leah's doing." Well, really, there's no telling what her creative little mind might come up with so I high tailed it up to our room and found her... pulling clothes out of the basket (in the dark!), "folding" them, and putting them in piles on the bed, just like mommy. She saw me and said "Here mommy, I'll do this for you so you don't have to do it tomorrow." I just about bawled. Who's my sweetest baby EVER?? We finished doing the load together, then she crawled back into bed and fell asleep. It was about the best ending I could have imagined to the day.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>S</em></strong>titching time has been completely non-existent for the last few weeks for various reasons. I did pick up <em>The Blessing</em> again Monday night and here is where I am:</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></div></span><div><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3305/4605541576_0a75f57186.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 311px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3305/4605541576_0a75f57186.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><strong><em>I</em></strong> am really enjoying this part of the pattern... I know this probably means I'm crazy, but I actually really enjoy fill in. No counting, totally mindless, just the soothing rythm of the stitches, and whatever music or audio book I'm listening to. Ahhh.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>O</em></strong>nce this is done, (or possibly before), I think I'm going to try finishing up that quilt top I was working on... whenever it was I was working on it! I've been bitten by the quilt bug recently (note to self - stop visiting fatquartershop.com), and really want to get cracking on finishing that quilt top and maybe starting another.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>J</em></strong>ust one more thing, then you can go. :) I'm not sure you recall the tour of my room several posts back, but I believe I showed a pic of my scissors in a frog just sitting on the table? Well, I was encouraged to find a home for the frog, and I found something it fit right there in my craft room! Me likey! </span></div><div> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3022/4605021165_ceb0dce339.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 441px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3022/4605021165_ceb0dce339.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><strong><em>A</em></strong>lrighty, that's it for me tonight! I'll "see" you all soon!! Have a wonderful weekend!!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">~Robin</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>MyLifesAStitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10759662056886022108noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883392324415324341.post-45086411673921661082010-05-04T00:31:00.001-04:002010-05-04T00:33:47.747-04:00Leah Haley<div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Five years ago (almost to the minute) my greatest joy entered the world. Here is "her life" in 8 photos or less...</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4577397390_041b6926de.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 294px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4577397390_041b6926de.jpg" /></a> <em>May 4th, 2005 ~ 12:35am</em></div><div align="center"><em>6lbs 15oz; 21" long<br /></em></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3303/4576764699_fc54753b37.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 332px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3303/4576764699_fc54753b37.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3327/4576764803_0ca36b065f.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 332px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3327/4576764803_0ca36b065f.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4577397650_67be94f61e.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 332px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4577397650_67be94f61e.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4576784363_001a19bd73.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 375px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4576784363_001a19bd73.jpg" /></a> </div><div align="left"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 375px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3369/4577397750_92175ec580.jpg" /><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3347/4576765325_7faee7be2c.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3347/4576765325_7faee7be2c.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3310/4576765675_1faf4d880b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3310/4576765675_1faf4d880b.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3399/4576765167_d95dd53578.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3399/4576765167_d95dd53578.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Have a wonderful week if I don't get a chance to do another post this week!</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Robin</span></div><br /></div>MyLifesAStitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10759662056886022108noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883392324415324341.post-91363130353765803252010-04-27T16:03:00.002-04:002010-04-27T16:07:38.148-04:00Testing 123Hiya folks!<br /><br />Just testing my ability to post on Blogger from my new phone. :)<br /><br />See you soon!!!MyLifesAStitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10759662056886022108noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883392324415324341.post-84142537510476692432010-04-22T22:05:00.008-04:002010-04-23T13:39:23.750-04:00Miscellany<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;">H</span></em></strong>ey there, everybody!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;">L</span></em></strong>et me start by sayin'... ain't no stitchy pics here! :) I've had another week that has kept me away from my stitchy seat (in some respects "self imposed"... but I'll tell you about that in a little bit) except for a couple of nights, so no progress worth a pic! Next time (I hope!)!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;">I</span></em></strong> have been very lax in blog reading and commenting the past couple weeks, and for that I apologize!! But, I was able to get a few read today at lunch, and look what I found on </span><a href="http://serenestitches.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Cari's </span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">blog!!??!! My first EVER award!!! :) It made me so happy!! Thank you SO SO SO much, Cari!!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaa38J99p8o5AijlyJYc6I9qMCMoO1C_IG72o6hD1EptjewU4nObQKOyXVv0mq5AM8Aw6gS0iDwOIEZOQnZMXvtdrMo9iw8W2wmLGo9B1PdL6Qp707TKSWDLyLh4KG39n4hFbqTtG4kto5/s1600/happyaward.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 160px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463138301424717362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaa38J99p8o5AijlyJYc6I9qMCMoO1C_IG72o6hD1EptjewU4nObQKOyXVv0mq5AM8Aw6gS0iDwOIEZOQnZMXvtdrMo9iw8W2wmLGo9B1PdL6Qp707TKSWDLyLh4KG39n4hFbqTtG4kto5/s400/happyaward.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> <strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;">T</span></em></strong>he rules are that I'm supposed to list 10 things that make me happy, then pass it along to 10 folks. Here goes the fulfillment of the 1st portion (note that these are not necessarily in order of importance - except the first one. The first one is definitely first.):</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1) My sweet baby Leah (I'm sure none of you are suprised by that!!)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">2) LOST (Here's hoping my level of sadness when the show ends {only 4 hours left!!!} does NOT correlate to the level of happiness it brings me)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">3) Reading a good book - curled up under a blanket on a rainy day, or sitting outside on a lovely evening</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">4) Taking pictures, and playing with them in PhotoShop</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">5) Playing games - card games, board games, any kind of game (except games involving balls)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">6) Stitching (duh)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">7) Quilt fabric (can't really say "quilting" since I pretty much only dream of doing that) - esp. jelly rolls, layer cakes, honey buns, turnovers, etc., etc., etc.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">8) Gardening</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">9) Decorating/ looking at design blogs and books (and mags)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">10) Sleep. I looove me some sleep!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><em>N</em></strong></span>ow the second part of this award is to give it to 10 other people... but I can't choose between all the blogs I follow. So, I'm not going to pass it along. (Breakin' the law! Breakin' the law!!) Just know this: If you are on my blog-roll, reading your blog makes me happy. Really! Your blogs give me so much inspiration, motivation, entertainment, enjoyment... and the relationships that have developed with some of you electronically enrich my life so much, I can't even tell you!! So! </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">O</span></strong></em>kay, on to the reason for my stitching inattentiveness (I'll try to keep this brief, but you know me!!)... I've been sucked into a vortex. Or maybe it's a black hole... whatever it is, I am very excited about this, and can't wait to truly get started with it!! What is it? Digital scrapbooking!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;">I</span></em></strong> visited my BFF (Ili) last Saturday and asked how her scrapbooks were coming along. She said "Girrl!! I went digital!!" I was like "Whaaat?? Oh no you di'n'!!" And she was like... okay, sorry, I'll spare you. :) Long story short, she introduced me to a website called artscow.com. She had completed and had printed several photo books from them, and they looked really really good! So, I got myself all set up and started Sunday evening. It was VERY cool! Pretty easy to use, and much faster than traditional (paper) scrapbooking. I used to spend 2-3hrs per page when I was kickin' it old skool. With this site, I spent @ 10 hrs and had 15 pages complete. I was so excited when I saved my project Monday night! Then the problems started... I won't go into it all here, but suffice to say I won't be using artscow.com. 10 hrs of work completely down the drain (due to issues on their end) and the response of their customer service department was pretty much "sorry 'bout your luck!"</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">S</span></strong></em>o! Despite that frustration it was a wonderful thing! I loved doing it so much that I am now looking into and will probably purchase the Creative Memories Storybook Creator software. It isn't nearly as expensive as I thought it was, and it looks like it is a very powerful tool! It'll be good to get through the thousands of pictures I have sitting on my PC, on CDs and on my memory card! Who knows? Maybe I'll even share some of my pages in future posts!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;">T</span></em></strong>o make up for not having a stitchy pic this week, I thought I'd share a couple of flower pics from my garden...<br /></span><br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2713/4522475522_c1ce69ddbd.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2713/4522475522_c1ce69ddbd.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4032/4521843201_7d2520520d.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4032/4521843201_7d2520520d.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;">W</span></em></strong>ell, folks! I'm going to sign off, get caught up on blog reading and commenting, then continue on with my Digital scrapbooking research... if any of you have success stories or horror stories to share, I'd love to hear them!!! </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Thanks so much for reading!!!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Stitch a$$ to all and to all a good night!!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Robin</span></div><div></div>MyLifesAStitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10759662056886022108noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883392324415324341.post-45650327836334682272010-04-14T22:53:00.003-04:002010-04-15T00:07:24.120-04:00Cherry Blossoms and Some Progress<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hey there mes amies! </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Before I get "started" on this post, let me first say thank you all SO much for your kind wishes for my anniversary! We had a quiet and relaxing evening at home, which was nice... I have no real idea what I've been doing the last couple weeks, but I do know that I've felt as though every single day has been jam packed with busyness. Good busyness, though, and that's about all we can ask for, right? </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I haven't had much time for stitching in the last couple weeks (I usually collapse into bed shortly after {and sometimes, lately, before... what is UP with my child that she seems able to exist on miniscule amounts of sleep?? She definitely didn't get that particular genetic "gift" from her momma!!} my little Leah.), but here is what I've done... as you can see, we have a lady! I'm hoping to finish this some time this century...</span><br /><br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2759/4521843641_6542e0c03c.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 469px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2759/4521843641_6542e0c03c.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Now, let's move on to what Leah described as our "a little bit boring" (kid tells it like it is... now <em>that</em> she definitely gets from her momma!!) trip to DC to see the Cherry Blossoms (along with every other tourist within a 100 mile radius), shall we?</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It was a beautiful day, although it started out a bit chilly and cloudy. But the clouds drifted away and the temperature rose comfortably pretty quickly. The hordes of people made it difficult to get very many really great, scenic shots, but here's what I've got...</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This is a close up (the only one I took... there were people literally hanging from the trees... like monkeys!! And ripping small branches off the trees, too. Did they not realize that these trees are a National Monument in and of themselves?? Would they chisel off a piece of the Jefferson Memorial?? I think not.... sheesh. Learn some restraint before you come out into public, people, really.) of the blooms:<br /></span><br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2766/4522475180_78d1e185fd.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 359px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2766/4522475180_78d1e185fd.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Some of you may wonder how I made it out of there without my own dear, sweet little monkey taking home a blossomy souvenir of her own... well... see, it's like this. I lied to her. Yes, call CPS right now. She is constantly (and don't get me wrong - I adore this) appropriating blooms to give her mommy a little gift, but as we all know, there is a time and a place for everything, and I just couldn't have my sweet child becoming "That kid", you know what I'm saying?? So, on the way to the Metro I told her "Now Leah, there are only two rules today. The most important one is stick to mommy like glue. The second and almost as important one is: Do. Not. Pick. The. Flowers." With her love of all things floral I should have known she would latch onto the floral ban. Of course, she asked "Why, mommy??" Thinking on my feet as any good (cough cough) mommy would to come up with a suitably serious reason to a 4 year old I said: "It's illegal (yep, she knows what that word means)." Her eyes got really really round, the thumb went in the mouth and the blankie went to her face. She didn't say another word about it. And I didn't think anything of it until we were making our way back to the Smithsonian Metro stop several hours later to head home. Suddenly we heard police sirens, and two police cars went streaking past. Leah asked me where the police men were going. I responded absentmindedly "I don't know, baby..." Her melting, beautiful, sad (at that moment) brown eyes looked deeply into mine and she said "Oh mommy, I think maybe someone picked the flowers." I was stunned into absolute silence. I felt like the worst worm on earth in that moment. But I'm consoling myself that she has most likely already forgotten...</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Anywho! Here's a shot of the Jefferson Memorial:<br /><br /></span><div><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2748/4522474334_ac76f44752.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 420px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2748/4522474334_ac76f44752.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />And here is the one and only decent shot of Leah from the day (notice the hot pink Peep clutched in her wee little hand)... the hordes (and I do mean <strong>hordes</strong>) of people out that day made it pretty difficult to get halfway decent shots. I had visions of gorgeous, card worthy pics of Leah amongst the cherry trees... so totally didn't happen! But, I like this one:<br /><br /></span><div><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2747/4521842983_16d48b0ab2.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2747/4521842983_16d48b0ab2.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />And here's the Washington Monument (you can see a bit how crowded it was... look along the railing at the edge of the Tidal Basin... wall to wall people.) from a vantage point about midway around the Basin:<br /><br /></span><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4521842679_7d1485ca58.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4521842679_7d1485ca58.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Now this next shot shows one of the cooler moments of the day... we were walking toward the Jefferson Memorial and suddenly we heard this very loud, unmistakable helicopter sound. We had seen a couple tourist (or maybe news?) 'copters already so I looked up expecting to see another. Much to my amazement, this is what I saw:<br /><br /></div></span><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4522474906_f804d83a8c.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 367px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4522474906_f804d83a8c.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yep, it's Marine One! And I'm pretty sure Mr. Prez (or <em>someone</em> important, anyway) was in there, b/c the two "diversionary" replicas (is that the word??) were flying with it. It really was pretty awesome... they were very very low, and they were <em>screamin'</em> fast past the Basin and Jefferson Memorial. They buzzed the blossoms about 3 times, then were gone.<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">One last shot, then my little head needs to hit the pillow... this was a Rugby game going on along our route to the Jefferson Memorial. I took the pic b/c I wanted to try out my zoom lens for action shots... It did pretty well, I think. I was standing 100yds (or more? I'm horrible at judging distances!) away, and this is what I snagged:<br /><br /></span><div><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2753/4522474178_1341f5e3c4.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 319px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2753/4522474178_1341f5e3c4.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />All right y'all! That's it for me tonight! As always, thanks so much for taking the time to read!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Enjoy the rest of the week, and may you all enjoy the sensation known as "stitch a$$". :)</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">~Robin</span></div></div></div></div></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></span></span>MyLifesAStitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10759662056886022108noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883392324415324341.post-61578616027615244792010-04-06T22:54:00.002-04:002010-04-06T22:59:39.837-04:00Nine Years Ago Tomorrow....<a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4499031886_9fd2976947.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4499031886_9fd2976947.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">From our wedding invitation: "As my walk brings me closer to Christ, it is your hand I reach for along the way..."</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Busy couple of weeks... "See" you all next week!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">~Robin</span>MyLifesAStitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10759662056886022108noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883392324415324341.post-41899488844611104032010-03-31T23:11:00.001-04:002010-03-31T23:12:12.456-04:00Who Has a New Toy? I Do!!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hey there everybody!!<br /><br />Apologies in advance for this post... I'm still fiddling around with photo layouts and uploading appropriately from Flickr, so if this comes out all wrong, I may have to delete it and re-post... with that in mind, I'm going to go easy on the wordiness just in case I have to re-post (*Note - I did, in fact, have to re-post, lol!!).<br /><br />Not a whole lot has been happening in the Wright household... just your general day to day work and play.<br /><br />Leah and I went to an Easter Egg hunt last weekend with one of her little friends from daycare and we had a blast. It was actually quite windy and chilly, but the girls didn't seem to mind - no pics from there, but stay tuned next week. We're going to the Mall and Tidal Basin in DC on Saturday (along with every tourist on the planet) with a small group my friends (and one of their daughters who is Leah's age) to get some shots of the monuments with the cherry blossoms, and enjoy what is supposed to be an absolutely spectacular day weather wise. So, maybe I'll have some pics to share from that jaunt.<br /><br />Speaking of pics... I got an early birthday gift. :) It's something of a tradition in my house... my DH & I rarely manage to hold the gifts to each other as a surprise until the appropriate day. So, what did I get?? I got an awesome 100mm macro lens for my camera!!! Wahoo!!! I had been eyeing it for a while and saving my pennies, and mentioned it once to Ken as an offhand comment. Major points to him b/c he remembered. The day it came in, he got home from work and said "Would you like your birthday gift??" Silly man! Of course I would! My eyes about bulged out of their sockets when I saw the Canon box, lol!!<br /><br />So, I've been playing around with it, and here are a few shots...</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Tudor Rose scissors:</span><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4480055761_9ccdce2fa9.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4480055761_9ccdce2fa9.jpg" /></span></a><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sweet Roscoe:</span><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2768/4480696678_2439362a59.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2768/4480696678_2439362a59.jpg" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And, of course I can't leave out stitchy macro shots, can I??</span><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/4480068645_5310efda28.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/4480068645_5310efda28.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4480070419_11d9d1ddbc.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4480070419_11d9d1ddbc.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Here are a couple of not so close ups of where I am with <em>Blessing</em>:<br /></span><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4480062281_1ffc1db9be.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 377px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4480062281_1ffc1db9be.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4480707358_4673a6254e.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4480707358_4673a6254e.jpg" /></span></a></p><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That's it for me for this week... I am taking the day off on Friday (my gift to myself) and hope to get a serious case of Stitch A$$.<br /><br />In light of the coming holiday I want to share something with you ladies. I've been (I apologize in advance for the digression) listening to the book <em>Intervention</em> by Robin Cook (Fabulous book, btw!! So interesting!), and as I've been listening (the subject matter of the book brought this to my mind) I've been reflecting that at times we women can struggle with our own value in the grand scheme of things... we are "just" homemakers, or (and I have caught myself saying this) "just" an f/t administrative assistant and mom. We go about the daily chores of keeping our families cared for and can sometimes lose the significance of the task we have been given amongst the mundaneness of everyday life and chores. And I've been thinking about Jesus choosing - upon His resurrection - to show Himself first (shockingly, for his time) to a woman and what a lovely demonstration that was to us women (aside from the Cross - obviously that is where His love is shown most beautifully to all of human kind) how well we are loved and <strong><em>valued</em></strong> by none other than the Lord. Just food for thought when your daily tasks might seem to be dragging you into obscurity. :)<br /><br />On that note, I am wishing a beautifully blessed Easter (or, as we call it in my house, Resurrection Day) to all of you that celebrate the holy day. And to those of you that don't, have a spectacular weekend!!<br /><br />Until next time!!!<br />Robin</span>MyLifesAStitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10759662056886022108noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883392324415324341.post-6730574413868621632010-03-25T00:41:00.008-04:002010-03-25T00:52:53.943-04:00Harper's Fairy<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hey there everybody! How's it hangin'?</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This post is going to be light on verbiage, but heavy on the pics... no stitchy update this week, although I have made decent (for me) progress on <em>Blessing</em>. The reason being the fantastic pic presentation dear </span><a href="http://bluehenhollow.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Siobhan </span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">manages on her blog. She let me in on her secret (it involves Flickr, and Picnik) and I've spent the time I'd normally spend taking a progress pic and getting it loaded onto the PC figuring out the whole process (I'm slow at everything, apparently). So! Without further ado, here's what I've got!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Saturday was a stunningly beautiful spring day in our neck of the woods, and the DH had the day off so we decided to take a family jaunt to Harper's Ferry, WV. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We told Leah where we were going and told her it would be beautiful, and we'd enjoy the weather, and seeing the sights. We were about 10 minutes up the road and she started talking about how much she was looking forward to seeing the fairies, and wondering what kinds there would be there... ummm... hold on... what? It took me a few minutes, and then... aha! Of course being almost 5 and a girl she would automatically think of the pretty, fluttery beings in the Barbie movies she adores (no need to explain that "real" fairies are "so not Tinkerbells" {to borrow a phrase from Karen Marie Moning}!!). She looked a little crestfallen when I explained to her the difference between "ferry" and "fairy", but said she was still game to go have some fun in the little town.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And so, after a time we arrived...along with what appeared to be a large quantity of the population from the surrounding area (really, it was fine, crowded but not horribly so).</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Walking into the town, we got our first peek at the dominating feature of the little valley:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4461626762_a97857395e.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4461626762_a97857395e.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This is a beautiful, old Episcopalian church (side note: my DH and I seriously considered getting married here b/c it is just so pretty, but couldn't - I can't remember why, but weddings don't happen there... or at least they didn't when we were getting married).</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We decided to walk across the river on the footbridge to wander along the C&O (I think) canal for a bit. Here's a shot of the church looking back from the bridge:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2730/4461614180_a957757101.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 357px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2730/4461614180_a957757101.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> I don't know if the placement of the church was purposefully planned so that no matter which way you look at the town it dominates the landscape, or if it was placed there to avoid floodwaters, or if that was simply the property the church had and so that was what they had to use, but no matter the reason, it is lovely from every vantage point.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We wandered along the canal for quite a ways (personal highlight: Leah coming across a very fresh pile of road apples {aka the final stage of horse feed}, shrieking that it smelled sooo ewwwwy, and running back down the path to tell me about it, then the positively priceless look on her face when I told her I don't mind the smell of road apples because it reminds me of the barn at Grandma Sheila's. Ha!!), and eventually Leah decided that the small branches that had fallen at the sides of the path needed to be thrown in to the river. Here's a shot of her gearing up for a toss:<br /><br /></span><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4461613970_2d0ba0b37d.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4461613970_2d0ba0b37d.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> We made our way back across the river, had a late lunch, then made our way up the hill to get to the church & Jefferson's Rock beyond it.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Along the way, I spotted this cool iron star nailed into the brick above a back door, and of course I <em>had</em> to take a picture of it:<br /><br /></span><div><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2695/4461614264_406edd9b04.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2695/4461614264_406edd9b04.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />So, up the awesome stone stairs we went to the church. Here's a shot standing right beneath it, just outside the courtyard fence:<br /><br /></span><div><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2677/4460853871_894aa59481.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2677/4460853871_894aa59481.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />And here's my Leah posing for the camera... she's usually really good about posing and giving me "real" smiles, (and I wish she would've done so here b/c the lighting is so good here I would've definitely been able to use this picture as my "school picture" replacements) but even though she's being goofy here, I still love this pic of her. Totally her personality shining through!<br /><br /></span><div><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/4461614460_b861e413b6.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/4461614460_b861e413b6.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> As we made our way up the hill past the church, we caught sight of the ruins of the original Episcopalian church... pretty amazing. There aren't a whole lot of genuine (and fairly well preserved even though they're ruins) ruins in the US simply because, well, we're pretty young. And I love me a good ruin! So atmospheric... can't you just imagine this on a misty, foggy morning as the sun comes up and you can really see the fog swirling around the stones (can you tell I read a lot of Nancy Drew as a kid??)?<br /><br /></span><div><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2799/4460838933_586b4847ea.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2799/4460838933_586b4847ea.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Just beyond the ruin, I turned around to look back toward the church, and look what I saw:<br /><br /></span><div><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2775/4461615958_8cf544b7dd.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2775/4461615958_8cf544b7dd.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Purty!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Then we finally made it up to Jefferson's Rock - yes, Thomas Jefferson. He visited Harper's Ferry and presumably sat on that rock and described the view as one of the most stupendous in nature. And it is beautiful.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Jefferson's Rock is actually a couple of large rocks that once sat atop each other, but are now bolted into the ground and the top rock is supported up off the face of the base rock by large steel pillars.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And, of course, my DH & Leah - being the adventurous souls they are - had to climb up on top of the rocks. I was petrified the entire time. Petrified I tell you!!! You see, the top of the upper rock is probably 7 or so feet from the ground you stand on around the rock. You're thinking, 'c'mon Robin! That's not so bad!' Yeah, it's not, however if one were to fall <em>off</em> of the rock you've got a looooong way to fall (or at the very least roll) 'til you hit the bottom of the valley. It's got to be a few hundred feet, and I really don't think I'm exaggerating. My palms are sweating just thinking about it! Here is Leah on the top of the rock:<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2765/4461638374_220e018242.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2765/4461638374_220e018242.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I was, of course, most comfortable when she was sitting down on her little derriere... but of course, the little daredevil haaad to try to give me a heart attack (I swear I felt my heart muscle squeeze inside my chest) and stand up on it and try to walk around. I kept the camera glued to my face, though... probably so I could use the photos as a defense in my murder trial (the murder of my DH that is) in the instance my baby girl was harmed... "Yes ladies and gentlemen of the jury... but did you see the photographic evidence of the idiocy the poor slain departed was engaging in with this poor mother's one and only child in the moments prior to the alleged unfortunate event??" </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Eventually it was time to go (there were other lunatics waiting to climb up on the rock), but not before I snagged one more shot of this beautiful little pice of earth (from a position safely on the ground directly in front of Jefferson's Rock {this should give you an idea how high up we were}):<br /><br /></span><div> </div><div><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2750/4460883325_c32795a41b.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2750/4460883325_c32795a41b.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And, that's all she wrote folks... okay, so it wasn't light on verbiage after all. :)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Thanks once again for taking the time out of your busy days to comment on my last post!!! I love love love hearing from you all!!! I'll be grabbing lunch to go and trying to get caught up on all your posts while at lunch tomorrow (it may, of course, bleed into the evening... please don't be offended if/ when I don't comment on your posts right away! I dearly love all of your blogs, I just seem to get limited computer time these days.)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Enjoy the rest of your week!!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">~Robin</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>MyLifesAStitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10759662056886022108noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883392324415324341.post-50751531842903735282010-03-17T23:32:00.002-04:002010-03-17T23:37:20.310-04:00Ratted Out by my 4 Year Old & Loads of Stitchy Goodness<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">'Sup my homeys? Oh wait... It's St. Patty's Day, let me try again... ahem...</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Trathnona maith!! (Don't get too impressed... I Wiki'ed that!)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Well, it's been another busy (but great) week in the Wright household... First up, the stitchy lesson. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Leah and I went over to Jen's house for our "slumber party" Friday night. While the girls played (and wrote a very short play based loosely on The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe - then performed it for us as well) Jen & I got started on the "everything Robin knows about cross stitching" lesson. Since all I know can barely fill a thimble, it lasted about 30 seconds. Haha, just kidding.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Really all I did was give Jen a few pointers on things that have tripped me up, then she was off to the races. The girls had gone to bed, and we had just started to stitch, when my little bug began having her normal problems with going to sleep (Seriously, I don't know how she doesn't spend her days dropping off to sleep every few minutes. Sometimes I swear the poor child only gets 1/2 hr more sleep than I do.) which were exacerbated by the fact that we were in a different house. I had put in about 5 stitches on my own WIP when she came downstairs for the umpteenth time, and I decided to go lay down with her for a few minutes (assuring Jen that I would be back down very shortly to continue our stitching) to help her settle in. And that was pretty much all she wrote for me, lol! I don't even remember my head hitting the pillow. I woke up in the morning, and went downstairs to capture Jen's first ever progress pic! And here it is (Jen said she started nodding off over her stitching and was having to frog a lot, so she pulled out some mistakes then went up to bed herself): </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHV60F1Na2sgKtIOqiyz4i8JzaF_LAynctImNFAS_dPIRYl50iLaJ5mRPJh2aSQcFNeJKglagTWBzhlkQ-9lWZllZWjNv4Mhzdhgoh9ywm0_qUxZ8N5PDMSXsqxI52hXGeeqrPgYQwax0_/s1600-h/IMG_4609.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449789280803172658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHV60F1Na2sgKtIOqiyz4i8JzaF_LAynctImNFAS_dPIRYl50iLaJ5mRPJh2aSQcFNeJKglagTWBzhlkQ-9lWZllZWjNv4Mhzdhgoh9ywm0_qUxZ8N5PDMSXsqxI52hXGeeqrPgYQwax0_/s320/IMG_4609.JPG" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">She got a great start, didn't she? Oh, and you may notice something about this photo... This is NOT a Prairie Schooler design. Nope, it's Little House Needleworks' "<em>Blessed are the Peacemakers</em>." I swear some days that if my head weren't attached...</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Anywhoze... So we enjoyed breakfast with Jen & her girls (her DH was in GA {I think} to attend some NCAA action), then headed home, then back out again a few hours later to attend what would turn out to be the best young child's birthday party (for a co-worker's son) I've ever been to (keep reading... the event for which this post is named is coming...). </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It was at this really great kids' fitness place called Romp n' Roll. It was fantastic, I tell you!! There was fun "equipment" (including short monkey bars, one of those swingy things like trapeze artists use, and a moon bounce), the workers were all high energy, kept the kids involved and having a blast with a mix of self directed play and "organized" activities. They played high energy dance music (but nothing inappropriate for even the tiniest tot) the whole time which the parents and the kids loved. The highlight of the fun was an activity called "Freeze Dance". The worker (I'm sure they had some sort of silly title like "fun director" or something like that, but I have no clue what it was) played some great music and had the kids dance however they wanted, then she'd stop the music and the kids would have to freeze or be tickled. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So! My co-workers & I are standing there while this is happening, chatting and not really paying a whole lot of attention to the kids. One of them looks at the kids and says "Oh my goodness, look at Leah shake her booty, LOLOL!!!" We look over, and sure enough, there she is shaking her bom bom (aka: what her momma gave her) for all she's worth! Of course everyone erupts into laughter and the phrases flying around were along the lines of "I've never seen anything so hilarious in my life" and (lots of this one) "Where on earth did she learn to do that, hahahahaha!!!" I just laughed along with them all (really it was pretty stinkin' adorable) and shook my head and said "Oh wow, I have no idea"! (No way the hours Leah & I have spent gettin' our groove on to the Music Choice dance channel could've rubbed off on her. Uh-uh, no way). So, I had pretty well played it off like "Oh, she was just born that way, I guess", when the little goof ball turned around, looked directly at me, waggled her eyebrows, nodded her head (all the while keepin' her little tooshie shakin', of course!) at me and did the <em>Pulp Fiction</em>!!! Oh, it was all over then. All my co-workers looked over at me and busted out laughing, like - "Now we know what you do, Robin!!!" Ha!!! It wasn't embarassing, just hilarious!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After the party we went home, then my DH (Ken) & I went out on our first date night in probably two years. We saw Alice in Wonderland and it was wonderful. Apparently, about 20 minutes after we left, Leah asked our neighbor "So how long do dates last, anyway??" Hahaha!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Bla blah bla... Let's move on to the "stitchy goodness" portion of this post, shall we?</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I've only hit the stitchy chair 3 times in the last 7 days, so there's not a whole lot of progress on <em>Blessing</em>, but here is where I am:<br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZJbA7CWDmEpulnQfBhSEknktxcZh_swM53NQochzS8j96im5NZDlEOmS5QsopoAWVUlXvGcYjKPItZjxjvN1tTEUAmrxco7o0DdosaP2JjICo0s9LxiumS4pal7BPXcMgJpGyWwnhK4p/s1600-h/IMG_4620.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449789271159264930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZJbA7CWDmEpulnQfBhSEknktxcZh_swM53NQochzS8j96im5NZDlEOmS5QsopoAWVUlXvGcYjKPItZjxjvN1tTEUAmrxco7o0DdosaP2JjICo0s9LxiumS4pal7BPXcMgJpGyWwnhK4p/s320/IMG_4620.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> I must admit, I'm still not loving the leaves, and will be very glad to be done with them, which I should be shortly.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The rest of this post is going to be slightly embarassing... you see... I have a problem. My stupid fingers keep adding stash to online carts, and more... and more... and more... Below is what I've gained while waiting on the <strong><em>two items</em></strong> I originally planned to purchase from Market. Good grief, if they don't come in soon, I may need an intervention!!! <em>(All pics should be clickable)</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">First up is scissors... ah, glorious scissors! I got the Kelmscott 'Steweb' scissors, Kelmscott's 'Tudor Rose' scissors, and the non-shiny ones are the pair I found in my antiquing/ second hand shopping adventures a few weeks ago.<br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxQV9mz9U9qvaxcpP8X0R9GB7LH_IY8on9fXJS48A-NHT0U79RxrWeepMYnL7rZYYO812Dh_WKgKjpZh6HIbKUVq3wOl_W_UXRpMWUzhvCsq3_otmK1K8ls50asaMXXNv6AQczCe5iZ5_/s1600-h/IMG_4618.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 293px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449788830245120818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxQV9mz9U9qvaxcpP8X0R9GB7LH_IY8on9fXJS48A-NHT0U79RxrWeepMYnL7rZYYO812Dh_WKgKjpZh6HIbKUVq3wOl_W_UXRpMWUzhvCsq3_otmK1K8ls50asaMXXNv6AQczCe5iZ5_/s320/IMG_4618.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Next up are my BBD acquisitions - an older pattern book (I got it b/c of a gorgeous sampler that's in it that I spotted on Terri's post of her Guild's BBD Day), and several 'newbies' to the BBD line-up:</span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQYx7L9Y2jBEWG-JOq4aWkpOSCywHCilkBiSjcUkbSOSUHIwpCnl8L-frl-Jg2YVu7wk42U0B4ybW-1CWM62vtw1OoJprwZHAQP-HDmAYVVKn-w3QMkHnCwFtzVnFNQRQsDV-Pmf-tH1k/s1600-h/IMG_4638.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449788822293463250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQYx7L9Y2jBEWG-JOq4aWkpOSCywHCilkBiSjcUkbSOSUHIwpCnl8L-frl-Jg2YVu7wk42U0B4ybW-1CWM62vtw1OoJprwZHAQP-HDmAYVVKn-w3QMkHnCwFtzVnFNQRQsDV-Pmf-tH1k/s320/IMG_4638.JPG" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Next is a random sampling of other miscellaneous patterns, a piece of 36 ct. fabric (which happens to be the exact shade of the walls in my room), and the 'Primitive Little Gems' scissors:<br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznGwXBVAJIiZT80ck9j3jlhhgTNvS4VN0baeN1X1yAqmWMpXiwZi7VomYK9g5-LM_ArNcVrhZ7e5yqS1enj9CpSskp5yeGRAI25dZPAFLjpO1GF84KNEp7CFEw9TcEipZZ-4R1QyBzESu/s1600-h/IMG_4634.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449788819328630690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznGwXBVAJIiZT80ck9j3jlhhgTNvS4VN0baeN1X1yAqmWMpXiwZi7VomYK9g5-LM_ArNcVrhZ7e5yqS1enj9CpSskp5yeGRAI25dZPAFLjpO1GF84KNEp7CFEw9TcEipZZ-4R1QyBzESu/s320/IMG_4634.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />And now for the Christmas patterns I picked up (Really Robin??? I need more of these like I need another hole in my head):<br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnIFbtLPehEgbgmh3VB4UewMxCj_YQ7Wpzl_N-zMqDk5-7wsc8HPlXidXSeZBp7-yKDvKVkw7a9VRd7-10uTzCenMYAG1lahYmgYhL0vJ9EWdZpZng_x1GJVT75-3BmcqbXmDZuVtLVeg/s1600-h/IMG_4641.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449788811982193650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnIFbtLPehEgbgmh3VB4UewMxCj_YQ7Wpzl_N-zMqDk5-7wsc8HPlXidXSeZBp7-yKDvKVkw7a9VRd7-10uTzCenMYAG1lahYmgYhL0vJ9EWdZpZng_x1GJVT75-3BmcqbXmDZuVtLVeg/s320/IMG_4641.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And, my CHS finds (I've already got Frederick, and if I ever actually get the birdie couple stitched, I think they'll go in the Master bedroom):<br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwGE9PZ79QGWV9eL57JfnVu3CK8QDeufk5ZrT6zjPULP-1nJow6Sy_0gwRGYSMDRu8jrtbCUe0AwcEuDjhIzBcSagEWC7SuFn1qJIH-N3w2kNx2iI2E3ozzxEt-fhHNEKDCCKUKJourBp/s1600-h/IMG_4643.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449788801997028130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwGE9PZ79QGWV9eL57JfnVu3CK8QDeufk5ZrT6zjPULP-1nJow6Sy_0gwRGYSMDRu8jrtbCUe0AwcEuDjhIzBcSagEWC7SuFn1qJIH-N3w2kNx2iI2E3ozzxEt-fhHNEKDCCKUKJourBp/s320/IMG_4643.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><em> *Note: The little black and white baby photo in all of these stash shots is Leah when she was... probably 8 or 9 months old...</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I have a problem, I know. And, I have more coming!!! The Plum Street Samplers 'Queen' charts, 2 half yd. cuts of LL, another pair of scissors, and some thread. Aaaah!!! If I have a prayer of getting all of this stitched, I'd better live to be a hundred, lol!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I do believe I'm done stash enhancing for a while (...ummm... maybe I should have the stitchy retail sites blocked from my PC), but there is one thing I really want to get sooner rather than later (maybe with some of my refund from Uncle Sam?) - The Needlework System 4 Floor stand. Yup. Serious dough for that puppy. But, I think I need it. I have been noticing some issues with my right hand/ wrist lately. Of course, it might not be from stitching (I do make my living doing a lot of typing), but I feel I 'just can't be too careful'. Plus, I'm hoping it will help me stitch a tad on the more rapid side. So, I know Vonna loves hers... anyone else out there have one and want to add their two cents?</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Okay, y'all... I'm going to sign off now. Thanks so much for all of your wonderful comments on my last post!! It is always so encouraging to read them, and hear what you all have to say. I really enjoy writing this blog, but it makes it all the more meaningful when people read it and think enough of it to actually comment! I'm going to try to get caught up on my post reading and commenting tonight or tomorrow night (you all are posting so fast I can't keep up, lol!). Until then...</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Stitch A$$ to all, and to all a good night!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">~Robin</span></div><div></div></div></div></div>MyLifesAStitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10759662056886022108noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883392324415324341.post-47099004909987437182010-03-11T00:28:00.000-05:002010-03-11T00:29:12.936-05:00Spring!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, and stitchy stuff, too...<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Halleluia, it finally arrived!!!! </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I went outside Saturday morning, and glanced over at my neighbor's flower beds, and saw... daffodil babies! I whipped my head around to look for them under my tree so fast I gave myself a neck spasm, lol! And here are the little beauties (I don't think I've EVER been so thrilled to see them poke their heads out of the ground as I was that morning):</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLMEblexGvYcNfFz2qOGcNWKfWkhaMf4vR9Kmlcvd3ueIsKUNjDuH8nxkZEQDiDPmGBcqYYetAKGt9OieckoDycteQkUvRzrqTjC79UETYcyogkoXKLXJv7G1JXWEN10YqPqnzMQ_9L-2/s1600-h/IMG_4575_1.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 278px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447222058461690002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwQMITyfZUxDMvR06tG1m6zWKJMUY-kxxedJ8sm57hSK2MtsekLYXFsk_gSV255yqQOSTQyk9319B_-WUWLWf35hz701kS4HnH3Uv2SjxZ4khJTFeqjRv0nOxwB45ZNdnlwvuC5I1fKoC/s320/IMG_4585_1.jpg" /></span></a><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Note - This picture was taken in full darkness tonight (I haven't managed to get myself home in time to shoot a pic in daylight all week)... All I have to say is my camera has a heckuva on board flash!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></em><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So, after that point the weekend was a flurry of vitamin D absorption and fully disengaging from the iron grip of the winter hibernation I've been living under... I may even be moved to remove the "winter pelt" (as some who shall not be named, but who are HIlarious might say) shortly.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Saturday was gorgeous (it hit nearly 60 degrees!), so Leah and I spent a few hours clearing out and cleaning up the winter detritus from the front flower beds, and by the time we were done our front yard was 100% snow free! The back yard - being north facing, and 100% shaded until late spring - however, still has about a foot of snow. I think I lost my hydrangeas back there. :( The front beds were pretty well spared - the weight of the snow only decimated one (really, rather scraggly and ugly builder grade anyway) small tree/ shrub. Which, actually... is sort of okay with me. I might get my "Skyrocket" juniper after all!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The fun continued on Sunday. Leah & I went with my friend Jennifer to the Woodlawn Plantation 2010 Needlework Show. Oh, was it ever wonderful! If you live in the DC area, you definitely need to make a trip to see it (it will be going on the entire month of March). Just lovely. How to even describe it... It's a beautiful (and appears to be well preserved) old manor house southish from Mt. Vernon. After you pay the admission (proceeds go to preservation of the plantation), and walk in... oh my. It's like a stitcher's dream come true. The walls in the central hall were nearly covered with the more traditional samplers (I hope I live long enough for my home to be even half so full - Siobhan, you've got a great start!!). Every room in the place was filled practically to the brim with needlework of all sorts. Embroidery, stumpwork, Japanese embroidery, needlepoint, crewel, blackwork, smocking, hardanger... I'm sure I'm missing some! Oh, and of course, cross stitch. It was very cool to see patterns I recognize, some I have in my stash, and some that are WIPs on your blogs. Let's see... there was Garden Glade, Janet Gibson's Sampler, And They Sinned, several Mirabilias (which of course, were Leah's favorites)... and so much more. Of course, there were also many that I had never seen before.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My friend, Jennifer asked me a lot of questions (she is not a stitcher), and it was wonderful, but at the same time humbling - oh, how little I know about anything other than cross stitch - and even that it was revealed to me that there are rather alarming gaps in my knowledge. It was really a good thing - I've been inspired to go find out more about this craft I love so much. At the very least read up on the other forms (I don't really have a desire to try many - if any - of the others), and get myself in gear and take some classes (online, or live) so that I can learn some stitches beyond the basic "x". I mean, really... expanding my horizons is a good thing, right? I've been looking at cross stitch books as well. One in particular I've been looking at is the Proper Stitch. Do any of you have it, and would you recommend it?</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Anywho... Leah seemed to enjoy looking at all the "pretties" as well - I heard "Mommy, will you sew that for me?" more times than I can count, lol! She was such a good girl - I was so impressed with her! She really only had one mishap - she reached out to touch a beautiful ribbon embroidered silk bag (My heart squeezed looking at it, it was so beautiful... I wanted to touch it, too, truth be told!). Gah! I almost had a heart attack right there on the spot! The voice that came out of me when I said "NO!!" was foreign to my own ears, and it must have been even more so to Leah b/c she looked at me and I could almost see the thought bubble form right above her head. It went something like this "Who are you and what have you done with my mommy???" I was sort of surprised she didn't cross herself, lol! Oh, and don't worry, no beauty was marred. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After a while though (well over an hour - which was far more than I thought I'd get) she was "done", so my friend and I made our votes for "viewer's choice", and made our way outside. I challenged Leah to run laps around the "forecourt" as fast as she could to burn off some 4 year old energy, then my friend Jennifer took this wonderful picture of my sweet baby and I:</span><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447222065893102546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLMEblexGvYcNfFz2qOGcNWKfWkhaMf4vR9Kmlcvd3ueIsKUNjDuH8nxkZEQDiDPmGBcqYYetAKGt9OieckoDycteQkUvRzrqTjC79UETYcyogkoXKLXJv7G1JXWEN10YqPqnzMQ_9L-2/s320/IMG_4575_1.jpg" /> </span><br /><div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After we were done there, Jennifer & I decided to hot foot it over to In Stitches. I had never been, and since it is quite a distance from my home (due more to traffic, than miles) I wanted to take advantage of my proximity. Here's where it gets exciting, ladies!!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">You see, Jennifer is not a stitcher. I invited she and her girls to come along because I thought her two eldest - who knit very well - would be interested in seeing the show. As it turned out the girls had a birthday party to go to, but Jennifer decided to come anyway. Well!! On the way to the shop, Jennifer asked me if I would mind/ would it be any trouble to help her get started with stitching. Would I mind??? Would it be any trouble??? Clearly she didn't understand that verbiage of that sort is to a stitcher as waving the red flag is to the bull! :) OF COURSE I'd love to help!!! </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So, in the end she came out of the shop with a small Prairie Schooler kit, a set of Q-Snaps, and a piece of 32 ct. LL Vintage Lt. Examplar (gotta start her off right!!). Leah and I are going to her place Friday night for a "slumber party"/ stitchy extravaganza. Ohhh, I can't wait! I'll be sure to post about that, and if she'll allow it, will post pics to go with it. Truth be told, I'm a little bit nervous. What if I tell her the wrong thing? What if I confuse her? Can I actually teach her? Who am I kidding?? But, regardless of my success or failure at explaining and instructing, I am sure she will figure things out just fine... She is one of the most intelligent women I know. Thank goodness! Takes some of the pressure off, you know!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Good grief, I need to end this post!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This week and last have been pretty hectic, so stitching time has been at a premium, but here is where I am with The Blessing:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWx0uL7-18XtWee3OJKLuJplH-nG_SY0XGJC1mI_FMkXkmKhH1z1vRy2OGD59ZSrVfopE7Y3ItYysXIJijIWreEYsqVbSa5Y018KvMB_uAnuBKnVH8PKsBPvVsG5eJ9zE1-DZQVY4RXEQ/s1600-h/IMG_4604_1.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447222048309979362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWx0uL7-18XtWee3OJKLuJplH-nG_SY0XGJC1mI_FMkXkmKhH1z1vRy2OGD59ZSrVfopE7Y3ItYysXIJijIWreEYsqVbSa5Y018KvMB_uAnuBKnVH8PKsBPvVsG5eJ9zE1-DZQVY4RXEQ/s320/IMG_4604_1.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Coming along quite nicely, all things considered (sorry about the craptastic pic.. I'll try for better lighting next time!).</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Well, that's it for me for the night, folks! Thanks for all of your comments on my last post!! It was great to see input from you ladies re: audio books, and so great to see that so many of you share my love of books! So cool that we seem to have lots in common, isn't it? </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Enjoy the rest of the week!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Robin</span></div><div></div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>MyLifesAStitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10759662056886022108noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883392324415324341.post-7003448204249844892010-03-02T23:45:00.001-05:002010-03-02T23:48:43.068-05:00Waiting & Starting...<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hola mes amiga(o)s!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Well, my head is still spinning from tonight's LOST episode, so the "this will be my blogging night" plan may not have been the wisest decision, but I'm going to give it a shot anyway. Consider yourselves warned, though... I may be typing jibberish by the end of the post!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">First, thank you all SO much for your kind words re: my room (and my finish)!! They were all so encouraging!! I really love my little nook, and am so glad you all do as well. If there were room for everyone, I would be setting up a stitching party, stat! Glenna, if I weren't afraid of hosing up your walls, I'd gladly dress up in my "paint fairy" clothes and pay you a visit. ;) It is the only room in the house where I can be ultra feminine, and so I decided to embrace it whole hog. Well... really, I wouldn't <em>want</em> my entire house to be ultra feminine and romantic in style, but one room gives me enough room to play to get it out of my system, and keep the rest of the house safe from frills and furbelows, lol! I can't wait until Leah is a bit older! Then we'll get to play "super girly" in her room, too (minus the princesses)... uh... hopefully! </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">She was definitely born with her mama's yen for decorating... she adores it already. I find bits of ribbon, rocks, pieces of silk flowers, <em>My Little Pony Memory</em> game cards, random sticky items on the walls, (etc., etc., etc.) allll the time. It's absolutely adorable (well, except the sticky styrofoam pieces on the walls... any ideas how to get it all off w/o ruining the paint and walls?). I'll ask her "Hey Leah, how did such and such get here?" And she'll go into this long drawn out (at times HI-larious, but always cute) explanation of how it makes whatever spot look prettier. Apparently, she doesn't think mama has much decorating sense, because the things that are most often "decorated" are spots where I've got a <em>vignette</em> set up... if there's nothing sparkly, pink, or otherwise girlified it must be improved upon, lol! I'll take some pics and post some time.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">See, told ya! I think my name tonight will be Ms. Tangent... I shall attempt to control myself. Here goes... attempt #1 to remain "on topic".</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">OK, so the plan was to visit my LNS on Saturday to pick up the items I requested from Market (well... I asked them to get a few things, and I ordered online for a few others) (one of which being PSS's <em>The Queen's Sampler)</em> kit up the two PSS charts, head home, and get stitching... yeah... not so much. By the time my LNS ladies got to the PSS display, it was all gone. So, it's on order. Thus, I find myself checking gmail about 100 times per day looking for the ship notification of half my purchases, and gazing longingly at my phone, checking it for missed calls, sighing forlornly as I wait to hear that the other half of my stash enhancement has arrived at my LNS. Ah well. Stay tuned for the stash enhancement post!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Since I didn't get to get going on (or even get my hands on) <em>The Queen's Sampler</em>, I pulled this out of the kitted up and ready to be stitched stash:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrdK4zbZegYiNNgxZz-Vtkr_F-XiaOyuBXL_W_KFbXYZEQUWft-YQNq-Zb6Pf4KdEri_V-R-3HmTHme5InKvRLcQ9rUJZXKkG6ZX5xV86KDyGeB0wIAntk4zIHyMNVUGPI6jQD1JgR3VE/s1600-h/IMG_4564.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 257px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444245982651372562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrdK4zbZegYiNNgxZz-Vtkr_F-XiaOyuBXL_W_KFbXYZEQUWft-YQNq-Zb6Pf4KdEri_V-R-3HmTHme5InKvRLcQ9rUJZXKkG6ZX5xV86KDyGeB0wIAntk4zIHyMNVUGPI6jQD1JgR3VE/s320/IMG_4564.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> It is Examplar Dames Design Co's <em>The Blessing</em>, and here is the model photo:</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCq-2Tnuv6wFbICP-5DUayrvXCuLwHCBR0dlwqpUJoTMAzWruvajGr4fD-6-7X9rJhx2CmcBOE5c7FJxoULai_5Ep7FcrBkbrTpeyk1V7lBVU5Nv7k3qje4UxXriqxCP-IYle05yiCIUPF/s1600-h/The_Blessing.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 232px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444245976371239234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCq-2Tnuv6wFbICP-5DUayrvXCuLwHCBR0dlwqpUJoTMAzWruvajGr4fD-6-7X9rJhx2CmcBOE5c7FJxoULai_5Ep7FcrBkbrTpeyk1V7lBVU5Nv7k3qje4UxXriqxCP-IYle05yiCIUPF/s320/The_Blessing.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Isn't she lovely (great... now I have that Stevie Wonder song playing on a never ending loop inside my brain)?? I've been wanting to start her for a while now, but kept putting other things ahead of her - I have no idea why, because I really love this. The only thing I'm a tad disappointed in is the leaves on the tree... the chart calls for WDW Noel, but the model photo color looks nothing like Noel. As a whole, the rest of the model photo colors look pretty true to life, so I'm wondering if it was originally charted to use a variegated thread that no longer exists and so the chart got changed but not the model? Meh, whatever... I still love it. :) I'm stitching it on 40ct LL Vintage Light Examplar with the called for WDW threads.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I started it late Saturday night (after a fabulous day w/ my DD), and have worked on it at lunch both days this week. Not tremendous progress, but I'm pretty happy with where I am. Especially considering the "condition" that has struck me recently (and, I might add, has shown no proclivity toward mercy)... Sudden Onset Stitchy Narcolepsy. I actually think it's the chair, b/c the same thing used to happen to me when I'd rock Leah to sleep in it - I would crash (and crash hard) in the chair, so much so that all I could do once I got up from it was to stumble (and hope I didn't fall down on the way) into my bed and fall straight back into a deep sleep. The more I think about it... it used to happen to my DH as well.... Ooooh, here's a theory: Maybe someone prayed over it before it shipped... something along the lines of "Lord, please bestow a peaceful and rapid descent into sleep for all those who use this glider." Yeah... that would pretty much cover what's been happening, lol!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A couple of you asked about my audio book selections... well, here goes (Disclaimer: I'll try my very best to be brief... but once I get going on books and all things related to them, I have a hard time stopping.):</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I must admit that in choosing audiobooks I don't typically go for the "high brow" "real" literature. No, not at all. I go for what some might call "trash lit". I prefer to call it fun, light reading. A few of my particular favorites are: Karen Marie Moning (I actually have all of these loaded on my iPod)... I really do love her stories (esp. the <em>Fever</em> Series!!), and I like the guy that narrates most of them - Phil Gigante (more on narrators in a minute); Mary Balogh, Stephanie Laurens (mostly her earlier stuff, though), Lauren Willig, Lisa Kleypas, Judith McNaught (when they aren't abridged), and Julia Quinn. I will also listen to others as they strike my fancy while I browse the library shelves. But typically, just very light stuff where not a lot of thought is required. If I want to read something more mentally hefty, I tend to actually pick up the book and read it. #1 I read much more quickly than the narrators = less time taken away from other things, and #2 if the book requires mental muscle I can't divide my brain sufficiently to stitch and listen at the same time.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Now my thoughts on narrators (I think it was Berit that mentioned this?) - I tend to prefer male narrators over the females. I think the main reason is that they seem to manage female voices far more believably than woman narrators manage male voices. That said, if I like the story enough, I can get past most performance flaws. There is one, though, that if present I simply cannot get past. And that is pacing. If the narrator is too slow I cannot listen. I have stopped listening to a few stories b/c of this - one was an absolutely wonderful book, but I juuusttt... coooouuldnnnn'ttt.... ttttoooolllleeeerrrate (you get the picture) how slowly the guy was reading. I have two favorite (and one that I cringe whenever I see her name on a title) readers: Phil Gigante, and Jenny Sterlin (she read all of the Laurie R. King Sherlock & Mary Russell books [well... all the ones I listened to] - that's a really great series, btw. very very well written, I thought). My least favorite? Ann Flosnik. Ugh. Like nails on chalk board. However... she narrates all the books in the series I'm listening to right now, and I'm able to involve myself enough in the story to somewhat ignore her voice. Anyway, blah blah blah... someone stop me, please!! :) Do you all have any favorite audio books and/ or narrators? I'm always up for recommendations!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Well, folks, that's it for tonight! As always, thanks for taking the time to read, and comment. I savor each and every one. :)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Have a great week!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Robin</span>MyLifesAStitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10759662056886022108noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883392324415324341.post-52944112385656644142010-02-21T19:35:00.010-05:002010-02-21T21:31:45.114-05:00"Special Delivery", and My Room<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Happy Sunday, everybody! Are you ready for a pic heavy post? Coming right up!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">First on the docket is my finish of <em>Special Delivery</em> (pics should be clickable... I'm pretty sure I did it right this time!):</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_J0ifFwstCdD9lqZQlfSBSGaWtY0rnlhjDitLzuMaoR81E0iTc2IEjpO5YlKNgPoKc2EmbrQlRbdPZJk-bRNZnR4j22p3iCCiEFStMXjIu5zzG7G8ZUL6k6Q3dEJmPlq_GIJplAj8LKJ/s1600-h/IMG_4515.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440862474580078802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_J0ifFwstCdD9lqZQlfSBSGaWtY0rnlhjDitLzuMaoR81E0iTc2IEjpO5YlKNgPoKc2EmbrQlRbdPZJk-bRNZnR4j22p3iCCiEFStMXjIu5zzG7G8ZUL6k6Q3dEJmPlq_GIJplAj8LKJ/s320/IMG_4515.JPG" /></span></a><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> <span style="font-size:78%;">Special Delivery</span></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;">Blackbird Designs</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;">40ct. cream linen, and Gentle Arts threads</span></em></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It turned out just as well as I could have hoped for. The spacing on the letters could be a tad better (the "y's" and the "W" seem to be hanging out on their own a bit), but I am very happy with the overall effect.</span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8usE_ClL74rUhZ4TAJjrrhyjlN2-3LoimFOy0mKvIXjHP6xfFy7obkclmW7xNKi0nKdTJbi2R3Oc6O_tj74M3A6s7uYphg9yU0JetqjMy9raOxvsrSCwJO54Ept8gZAL5NqZkUL4jpgAl/s1600-h/IMG_4516.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440862462683475634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8usE_ClL74rUhZ4TAJjrrhyjlN2-3LoimFOy0mKvIXjHP6xfFy7obkclmW7xNKi0nKdTJbi2R3Oc6O_tj74M3A6s7uYphg9yU0JetqjMy9raOxvsrSCwJO54Ept8gZAL5NqZkUL4jpgAl/s320/IMG_4516.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> I did have to make one thread swap - the chart called for GA Barn Grey and GA Banker's Grey on the left hand bird. I saw that they were very very close in color as soon as I pulled them, but as I started stitching Mr. Birdie I realized that they were so close in color as to be the same, offering zero contrast. So, I frogged, then I pulled out a dark steel grey DMC I have in my stash and subbed that in. Oh, and that specialty black fiber running through the heart next to the "M"? That is <em>Fur de Roscoe</em>. I didn't even notice it until I started looking at the pics on my PC while prepping for this post... I guess when it's everywhere all the time, my eyes just sort of bounce right off it, and don't even register its presence, lol!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The scissors in the top pic are a pair I came across in my adventures yesterday. They were $8, and are not particularly useable except to look pretty. But, they fit the bill perfectly for me. :)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My DH really blessed me (again) this weekend... see, he works as a retail manager, so entire weekends off are a rarity for him. He was off work all weekend (and has a couple more days to go) and decided to give me a mommy weekend. Just what the doctor ordered!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So, yesterday I set off on a mission to get some more pretties for "my room". I hit Home Goods, the library, Michaels, a couple antique marts (OK, so they aren't exactly what you'd call 'high brow' and while some folks would look down on them with noses lifted, I know you all aren't amongst that company!), and Joann's before heading home with my loot. I got a couple of things (and already had a few) that needed some painterly love in order to fit in to the "feel" of my room, so I did that, then hit the hay.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Today, amongst laundry and other assorted mommy tasks, I finished <em>Special Delivery</em> and got everything in place in my room so that I could do a little show and tell.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So, grab your drinks and come along with me on a tour of my little haven of peace (Special Note - If you've got sweet tea, please transfer it to a sippy cup before entering - hehe) (Oh... another special note - The concept of "come along with me for a tour" has been shamelessly stolen from the fabulous <a href="http://chocolates4breakfast.blogspot.com/">Terri</a>)...<br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjJLaXec0Fv7xQXnNcJc6_Z4VCOhaUq0e9enWAN4cBS2KsN-yjUeaLA2HsEgPJQdkV0pJD9Jh0Loicmzq8NBRRinkA2vpJQ9lKvCs1hv8Vqp1dDwdC0z-yLYnVpE5fAb1muukZv81z6BS/s1600-h/IMG_4561.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440862456792500290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjJLaXec0Fv7xQXnNcJc6_Z4VCOhaUq0e9enWAN4cBS2KsN-yjUeaLA2HsEgPJQdkV0pJD9Jh0Loicmzq8NBRRinkA2vpJQ9lKvCs1hv8Vqp1dDwdC0z-yLYnVpE5fAb1muukZv81z6BS/s320/IMG_4561.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Ah, here we are. Just inside the door and looking to the right. The gothic looking mirror was picked up at the local Cracker Barrel a few years ago, and was <strong>just</strong> hung up (note to self... go to the Cracker Barrel store more often... and, hang things up as soon as you get them!). The table under the white cloth is actually my grandmother's sewing machine (it's in one of those integrated sewing tables. Let me tell you what - even aside from the sentimental value - There isn't enough money on earth to get me to part with it. It can sew through about 5 layers of upholstery fabric. Worth it's weight in gold, I tell you!!). The paint treatment on the walls was done shortly after we built out this room (it was already framed out, and we had a friend drywall it, and add more outlets, and the closet) by moi. I saw the idea in an issue of BH&G and immediately set out to get the supplies. I stenciled, and paper ragged for several days. Very happy with the result is me! Let's move along, shall we?<br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSt7EzRiJyMO5TGZFMHVC0WUkxGoojzOMLMQGOoUnTG1IjQGIUZxRL9dJn8c5F4GVwfBYNiZtb_31Y1-f18qcPYHEZ1p2a6v_iVn5-6OtRdhTES4HnPNR0r505i0NDF2NEkbd-lN-zXMsu/s1600-h/IMG_4562.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440862452428422130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSt7EzRiJyMO5TGZFMHVC0WUkxGoojzOMLMQGOoUnTG1IjQGIUZxRL9dJn8c5F4GVwfBYNiZtb_31Y1-f18qcPYHEZ1p2a6v_iVn5-6OtRdhTES4HnPNR0r505i0NDF2NEkbd-lN-zXMsu/s320/IMG_4562.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> This is my stitching corner. The trunk belonged to my DH's grandmother - I love how it's rough around the edges. It was obviously well loved and well used! On top of that is my trusty stereo which my DH purchased for the stockroom of his last store, and which I promptly appropriated for myself. :) The WIP on top of the stereo is going to be for my mom (if I ever finish it), and the item on the wall above is our wedding invitation lovingly framed and matted by my great aunt who has a gallery and frame shop in Biloxi, MS. The chair is my glider from Leah's nursery. Another piece of sentimental mush. I couldn't even begin to estimate the number of hours I spent in that chair nursing her, or singing to her, or just rocking her (and myself!) to sleep. She was NOT very pleased when I brought it downstairs from her nursery (which she hasn't slept in in two years, lol!!) for use in this room. When I explained that it wasn't being used, and that I needed a place to sit and stitch in my room, she desperately tried to convince me that there is room in her big girl room (on top of her bed, maybe??), or alternatively, that I should rock her to sleep in it every night in the nursery - <em>anything</em> to keep it in her sphere. She has adjusted to the trauma, though.<br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYzUdW0Fkf3uDEgxSDZTnd7TCxqtVzdjplHHvbee_1OqbPtOlgXdo9T7w6IOD88aevcGN80AYq7UR-s8W2KPb-htdq6XbrJM48BK-TibyGQmm910S2oJGIhCyxvHelWQdH4aENakyTSEp/s1600-h/IMG_4534.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440862443405471074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYzUdW0Fkf3uDEgxSDZTnd7TCxqtVzdjplHHvbee_1OqbPtOlgXdo9T7w6IOD88aevcGN80AYq7UR-s8W2KPb-htdq6XbrJM48BK-TibyGQmm910S2oJGIhCyxvHelWQdH4aENakyTSEp/s320/IMG_4534.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And, here's one of my favorite things to look at. This bookcase (also brought down from Leah's nursery) holds my chart stash, various stitching and quilting books, most of my fabric stash (lots of jelly rolls, layer cakes, fat quarters, and charm packs, lol - I am utterly unable to resist their lure!!), and my current stack of audio books from the library (I am fortunate that our library system has a HUGE selection of them). The ceramic artichoke and the tiny little fruit cup on the top shelf (which will eventually become a pincushion) were picked up along the retail therapy trail yesterday. On top is a collection of some of my favorite B/W photos of Leah with various people in my family. In front of the shelves, on the floor, we find the most crucial element in the entire room - trust me. If not for this little gem, I would never spend any time in there at all. My heater. Aaaah, my heater.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECNLy-kEuh0RIkh25OlaaOWkm69m0J0t7vyHYo7e9gsCpE73WH8nTcLCWIlqZQ1o5PLdh23QGk7jUyZ2UBILlRKqJT1KuWfhgQPw3Ttr1nHwUyf3O7Z6TzPSjqNlFheXyGE6O2XyzvW4i/s1600-h/IMG_4550.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440861033343731042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECNLy-kEuh0RIkh25OlaaOWkm69m0J0t7vyHYo7e9gsCpE73WH8nTcLCWIlqZQ1o5PLdh23QGk7jUyZ2UBILlRKqJT1KuWfhgQPw3Ttr1nHwUyf3O7Z6TzPSjqNlFheXyGE6O2XyzvW4i/s320/IMG_4550.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Moving right along, you see my current sewing machine (a gift from my dad and step-mom for Christmas a couple years ago) on top of one of my new storage bins.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUW25VJS0_50fsnYolZ_SS5CrL8aJb4gySL6Vz0_JIybZFf_GBUAnvoDVcmTO0kSWHiAsHTFGSCyBIWeOrZIWMdSEQrQbQaNH-n8GPDiGYDqYnXeRz-9yu64aKiSLmsgFsYhe2SEzfSeSZ/s1600-h/IMG_4549.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440861028548588738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUW25VJS0_50fsnYolZ_SS5CrL8aJb4gySL6Vz0_JIybZFf_GBUAnvoDVcmTO0kSWHiAsHTFGSCyBIWeOrZIWMdSEQrQbQaNH-n8GPDiGYDqYnXeRz-9yu64aKiSLmsgFsYhe2SEzfSeSZ/s320/IMG_4549.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> And, here's the crafting table. One great thing about this room is that it is south-southwest facing which means it gets LOTS of sunlight. The shades were picked up at Target on sale when we first finished out the room. They are heavy enough that you can't see through them from the outside, but they still let in tons of light. Perfect.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWThuR1bHI4djq-f40eXOhb2UwqesNykHIAi215v4lNIgDwzIw-42Pt3r0N14266Ij6J49IM88EfUEGWLaz3l25iBG5_rYA4d8ROYQ7UTZRzc2NuSvtUQrFXPR85TirM1c_7oHfPa4y4rz/s1600-h/IMG_4538.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440861024563770146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWThuR1bHI4djq-f40eXOhb2UwqesNykHIAi215v4lNIgDwzIw-42Pt3r0N14266Ij6J49IM88EfUEGWLaz3l25iBG5_rYA4d8ROYQ7UTZRzc2NuSvtUQrFXPR85TirM1c_7oHfPa4y4rz/s320/IMG_4538.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> And the other side of the windows along with the matching sconce (the other is on the other side of the windows) which received some paint and what was supposed to be a specialty finish last night (they were black), and the edge of the closet door.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYWrHa8jW5aD8AHYmoBHiIvDcpu3ERfgVRKy98DO7hfSkMG4PgPW0t-e-KfFrvx5oqhzQnkxKZmtOKpu3oxFLL_F1uHts2GiM9lIndNNWp_LV8u9TZDVMVfTtsmsXnAntLHEZDVNQXI2k/s1600-h/IMG_4543.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440861012152861458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYWrHa8jW5aD8AHYmoBHiIvDcpu3ERfgVRKy98DO7hfSkMG4PgPW0t-e-KfFrvx5oqhzQnkxKZmtOKpu3oxFLL_F1uHts2GiM9lIndNNWp_LV8u9TZDVMVfTtsmsXnAntLHEZDVNQXI2k/s320/IMG_4543.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Almost all the way around. Does anyone need to take a minute to sip their drink? OK. I love the shape of this little corner. It holds my floor stand (which I haven't used in ages, but might when I take on a bigger project), and a bunch of hooks to hold my q-snaps (the white ones also received the "specialty" paint last night), and a couple of plates (picked up yesterday) - the smaller plate was a serious "score!!" in my book. It is a Haviland Limoges, in absolutely perfect condition, and I got it for (are you ready??) a whopping $1!! Limoges is my absolute favorite! I saw others this size yesterday that were $30, or more. I picked up the plaque that is on the other wall at Hobby Lobby when I went to Muncie last year (not the trip earier this month). It is one of my favorite biblical verses.</span></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOIpDdRlIs_vP7QTNOq0f07eQ_xVlsOCc16Vyj4BpG3kVWvRWixYsmDLw1sqejQXG8ogTcTSiJbgGDIWUHWlHoYhyphenhyphenvem0bzOvrtPh8SRnAFqOHR_ixvJvXPqWF_1URZIcYlXkKW4knIvL/s1600-h/IMG_4545.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440861009038859938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOIpDdRlIs_vP7QTNOq0f07eQ_xVlsOCc16Vyj4BpG3kVWvRWixYsmDLw1sqejQXG8ogTcTSiJbgGDIWUHWlHoYhyphenhyphenvem0bzOvrtPh8SRnAFqOHR_ixvJvXPqWF_1URZIcYlXkKW4knIvL/s320/IMG_4545.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> And, here we are at the end of the tour. I hope you enjoyed yourselves!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Well, I don't know about you folks, but I am SOOOO ready for spring!!! Reading all of your posts where you mention what's blooming in your neck of the woods, then listening to my current audio book with fabulous descriptions of all the spring bloomers, plus the really warm temps (it felt like it may have hit 50 degrees!!) today made me feel the need to get outside and dig around in the dirt, do some pre-season pruning. Then I looked outside. And saw the 3 feet of snow (that's down from nearly 6 ft - everything that came off the sidewalk and our parking spots went onto our postage stamp sized front lawn) still in our yard. Yeah. So much for a plan, lol!! It's supposed to rain tomorrow, so that along with temps in the 40s should put us well on our way to being able to see the grass. :) I don't think there will have ever been a year I'll have been so happy to see my daffodils poke their noses out of the ground! I do love snow (it sure beats just being cold - at least with snow there's something pretty to look at while you freeze your tuckus off!), but good grief, I'm done with this winter!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Well, that's it for me tonight! I'm not sure if I'm going to go start a new project, or continue putting my threads on tags, or what, but regardless - thanks for reading and commenting!! I just love sharing the joy of this craft with you all. :) Until next time...</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">May you all have numb hineys (uh... is that offensive??),</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Robin</span></div><div></div></div>MyLifesAStitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10759662056886022108noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883392324415324341.post-40181625479600357152010-02-15T22:04:00.009-05:002010-02-15T23:54:09.132-05:00Almost...<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hiya!<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I am pleased to report that me & mine have come through the "one two punch" weather wise with very few battle scars! Man, I love me some snow, but that was just a tad on the ridiculous side, lol!! 30+ inches on Fri/ Sat, then another foot on Wednesday? Yeesh!! Leah's daycare was closed all week last week, as well as today. Which meant she spent the entire day with me at work Friday, and the afternoon there with me today. Poor kid... she is sooo ready to get back to her friends and her regular routine</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">There were several bright spots though, that more than made up for the hunkered down state we found ourselves in. The main one being we never lost power (thank God for underground power lines!!), not even a flicker! </span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We got to spend lots of quality time together - Leah and I hung pictures up in her room (that's been waiting to happen for about 2yrs now), which was a lot of fun. It's so cute to see her "design sense" coming out. Of course, she is 4 so her design sense = 1 small picture on each wall, lol. I tried to gently suggest to her that it looked a tad empty that way but she assured me that "Oh no mommy. That's the way it's supposed to be. That way there's plenty of room for you to make beautiful projects for me!" LOLOL I guess she told me, huh? </span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We played Barbies and Ponies and games and watched movies out the wazoo... I knew she needed a change of scenery Thursday when what she came up with during our play time together was a Barbie/ My Little Pony/ Killer Lambie theme. Not kidding!! Yeah, she was going a little stir crazy... Heeeeeeeeere's Leah!! (Please know I am totally kidding around w/ that last part - she is just about the sweetest kid you could meet - headstrong as all get out [absolutely NO idea where that comes from, BTW] but still sweet as can be).</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I was able to keep pretty well on top of commenting on all of your lovely blogs - I think I was even the first commenter (instead of my usual dead last!) on one of your posts. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And, because I was able to do so much during the day, I got pretty consistent time in my stitchy chair in the evenings after my sweet girl went to bed. As a result, this is where I am with <em>Special Delivery</em>:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQUdeEpLK-0md70oDiMTQvPJ2jFYYRyns-r5L_sA2ZDowzrXHBjB0MzRm3HSYbkl5h5tqnrc9aI718_kaTrjHQBwyXhuingoa5MIsf8FB-XumvahqoAPRywMWglswuz_qTdna_UiQ1pl9/s1600-h/IMG_4464.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438672482241106162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQUdeEpLK-0md70oDiMTQvPJ2jFYYRyns-r5L_sA2ZDowzrXHBjB0MzRm3HSYbkl5h5tqnrc9aI718_kaTrjHQBwyXhuingoa5MIsf8FB-XumvahqoAPRywMWglswuz_qTdna_UiQ1pl9/s320/IMG_4464.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />All I have left to do is finish the flower, do the big & little "T", then chart out and stitch her full name and birth date. I actually think the part that will take the longest (b/c it while drive me straight around the bend every time I look at it if it is not perfectly centered) is charting her name and DOB. I remember now why the birth sampler I did for my friend made me so crazy, lol!! I've really enjoyed this one, and although it will have taken me 3 calendar weeks to finish (That's the plan anyway!! Have it done NLT 2/21.), it feels like it has gone more quickly than almost any other I've done. It's kind of funny - for the first couple sessions with this piece, I found myself checking the fabric against a "this is for sure 40ct" fabric b/c the stitches looked GIGANTIC compared to the last one I did! I was having nightmares about running out of fabric b/c I had pulled the wrong count fabric and calculated "this is how much I need" incorrectly. My eyes have re-adjusted themselves, though :).</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sunday my DH & Leah really blessed me for Valentine's Day - they took me to my (sort of) LNS and let me buy things!! I was very pleased with what I came away with:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438689189462067362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWbabSsj-ShLC0ywQTYpzczD5YQhd2m209VXxXQ_T4DHEbXsqS8kZOhK0LHLRO2_NDfuxdQWn0xQoF9eijRztDaWvEUT3ESdoMFH9fyVgmZUTw4kJbbW_S1n4p8El-uB-6fLw9oiI5W66/s320/IMG_4493.JPG" /><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The top piece of fabric (all are Lakeside Linens 40ct.) is a stitchers' 1/4 of Pearled Barley; in the middle is a 1/2 of Light Examplar; and on the bottom is a 1/2 of Strawflower. The blue/ cream/ brown threads are Soie D'Alger and are for the Workbasket's <em>"Stitch in Time"</em> chart. I finally found a piece of brown linen that will work for this! Yay! The model was stitched on LL Cattail Brown, but that dye was discontinued and I couldn't find it anywhere (I didn't know this when I bought the chart, of course). While I was at the LNS I saw a piece of LL Nutmeg - score!! It's almost the exact same shade!! The green/ brown/ rust threads are NPI and are for Carriage House Sampling's <em>"The Garden Glade"</em> - they didn't have all the colors I need for the chart in stock, but that's okay. I got what I could b/c all of this was 20% off. They had had to postpone their annual Super Bowl sale due to blizzard #1 - worked out perfectly for me!! There is no way in Hades I would've been able to drag Mr. Money Bags... er... I mean, my DH... out there during the Super Bowl, lol!!</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I've also gotten some organizing done in "my room"... bought a couple more drawer bins, hung some pics on the walls... it's looking much more tidy now, but also strangely empty and sterile... hmmm... I feel some trips to Home Goods coming in my future! Still plenty of room on the walls for me to hang the gajillion (cough cough) projects I will complete this year. I'll post some pics of the room as soon as it is looking a bit more cozy.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I am sooo looking forward to the Nashville Market haul that my LNS brings back!! I'm already plotting the sizable dent that will be made in my bank account! I am especially looking forward to the "Elizabethan" pieces from Plum Street Samplers. Liz I is my absolute favorite historical figure, and I cannot wait to get my grubby little paws on those charts (and the supplies to complete them, of course!)!! I also saw a pair of spider web looking scissors that I may need to add to my (still quite small) scissor collection. What are some items you are looking forward to in particular? I'd love to hear your "can't wait for..." items! This way I can be sure I don't miss an opp. to spend my cash, lol!</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Well, that's it for me tonight. Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging comments!! I love and appreciate each and every one of them. It's so great to have peeps to "talk to" about this obsession I have with thread and fabric.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Wishing you all numb butts,</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Robin</span><br /></p>MyLifesAStitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10759662056886022108noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883392324415324341.post-56630189642701743562010-02-06T12:54:00.015-05:002010-02-06T14:01:04.485-05:00Thank You, Snowtorious B.I.G., a Finish, and Progress<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hi there, everyone! I hope you are all warm, and dry, and enjoying your weekend!<br /></span><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">First I want to say thank you so much for your kind words re: my grandpa's passing... It was such a comfort to read all your comments! He was a wonderful man, and we will all miss him. Mercifully, his final decline was of relatively short duration. In answer to Deb's question, that picture was of him holding Leah when she was about 3 or 4 months old. Tricked ya w/ the B&W photo, didn't I? </span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Stitchy pictures to follow, but first... </span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As most of you have probably heard, we are currently getting SLAMMED here in the Mid Atlantic by what our local NBC affiliate termed "Snowtorious B.I.G." - I seriously LOL'ed when I read that. I went out to shovel last night at about 12:30 and we had nearly a foot on the ground already. After about 45 minutes to get my steps and the sidewalk in front of our house cleared (we live in a TH, so that's only about 20 ft. of sidewalk), what I had just shoveled already had a good 2 inches, or more. When I got up this morning and looked out the window at what I had shoveled a short 10 hours prior, I swear I heard the sidewalk laughing it's hiney off at me... it may have even been pointing at me as it laughed! We have close to 30" on the ground at my house, and may get 5" (or more??!!) more before it's all said and done.<br /></div></span><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And the worst part is... I think this may be my fault... I left this little gem hanging after we took the Christmas decorations down:</span></div><div align="left"><br /><br /></div><p align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435193987525576082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiclc3moG5zDN5j5GeoZfFuptRfAXGtzg2hquQ_EadZ5F983eXT8yDS99s1x75jSPI8GnYIO7BQp3o4QKQC9zIKRkcc-pgOI2pr0EgVi8hgAJhWsRlBjB0Rm14MvhO6gBongBq-ym2HXAy-/s320/IMG_2825.JPG" />Yeah... I've learned my lesson!!! :)</span></p><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Here are some pics of the 'hood (or, as Leah likes to call it, our village) about 2 hrs ago:</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435194800086140050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvDNtRXgH1r5jnRaIysOYD08T9kie1RQZzUKn_8aRv9O1mpEIywdgvySiWj3JKl1u0xF4BRRLk4VmphPB5_u0DQjY4FioBlBS6SU54lvzg8wX5g76yaOk9f_O56N20p4PWbLlDEe_KEoO/s320/IMG_2844.JPG" />Note the snow that has drifted high enough to nearly cover the hoods of the cars across the street... They've plowed our street a few times already, so hopefully we won't be trapped for too long. I looove snow, but it isn't really my idea of the greatest way to burn vacation days from work!</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435194806862507858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfddc7fOGX9IAjjvOTKxQ1LyEuSokkFMNHvTKI1uDdycC5pIXxGuhPw0_BPUB5adKpzRpwO87_dc-vjgDzCj0hO2ObUwHsJPM1Kai_ahBJ9jJAw8VF_lfobmjYB2MyMieHvg7Ukd81hddk/s320/IMG_2848.JPG" /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This is my front "stoop"... it was down to bare pavement when I went inside last night, and is sheltered pretty well from the wind. Oy!<br /></span><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435194944701419490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6q0dB3Uj34dkKPvH21GWxu_o3aA6iLcoeaN8h4lyx9XsGp5ap4jQ5_0IqIBAH_sDgZZ5C_NAv2JSPym1rcxa7342mXdgW_ilEdoxbpQxN8lLkdvjXM3dnulThBxNSFWoZXLhjM7Hepb8K/s320/IMG_2843.JPG" />And here's Leah and her daddy preparing to go for a walk around the neighborhood... the call of the snow was irresistable to them both. They lasted about 10 minutes. I think the wind slapping the snow into their faces is what did it. Leah came in begging for hot cocoa, and a warm bed, lol!</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We haven't lost power, but I hear that thousands in our area have - I hope those folks are all staying snuggled up and staying warm(ish) and dry inside their houses!</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">On to stitchy things... :)</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I finished (really!!) The Sewing Clamp Sampler Bits stitching, and here she is:</span></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435198260142907586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEJsaqq1qYuy9lTxJuuOj492hWivm83vxMrLmfHJXYLQSeUQ_h5CmSIdkEuPg_zYoujNeAL8pPQB_32hyT-wmWIOIGjUjGc6rJp5u9mA-CMcmdT-zAHU1f8pq9g0t8CT4ITRICed0Qcl5/s320/IMG_2826.JPG" /> <p align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;">Stitched on provided 40ct "Muffin" linen over 1 thread with provided DMC thread</span></em></p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435198271743600930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwU_WSsJxqkMzsuyndyUSFMbBqG7P8TRfTqyDOdItCKaHzJejSG4NystFdqSqwfCOGdB_QRdxPepXc3dXo5MmLp3McmrqHEVjqhEhpIq1wXhKyB_faKlGoPCa9Y6Hw-Sdlvym0nvdNh-0/s320/IMG_2828.JPG" /></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The one over one was not too bad once my eyes adjusted, but, especially with such dark thread, it was a bit hard to tell what I was stitching. There were times I just stabbed at what I <em>hoped</em> was the appropriate hole! I'm hoping to finish finish this little doo-dad in the next few weeks, but who knows if I will get to it that quickly, or not. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">One note on this kit - The kit description claims that the clamp part is wrought iron, and that made sense to me given the price. It is NOT wrought iron. It is a heavy metal, painted with a powdery dark brown paint. I discovered this when I was loosening the clamp to attach it to something (to see how well it would clamp) and little bits of paint started flaking off into my hand, and silver started to show up. I don't mind per se that it isn't wrought iron, and I probably would have wanted it/ bought it even knowing up front that it wasn't... however, I feel as though I was intentionally misled, and I do not care for that. I will not be buying any kits that include "hardware" from this designer again, for that reason. She also has a pair of scissors for sale, which I was considering purchasing, but due to what happened with the clamp, I don't feel I can trust the description on those, either. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">On to happier things!!</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I started Blackbird Designs' <em>Special Delivery</em> Girl's Birth Sampler on the way to IN, and here is where I am:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435202528880181218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1d-RIRUGkCjl98trpUM5Era61kDuzl5ipJVunHjJp28tG8CsF9YatbRk4GEl9QncjA8uLN8b8tod0t8cjt4a0Cwm5jgFf5CjJAbL60xty8mfSHtMQMD7VGNE4KameRQPCceDfTaGLuYr/s320/IMG_2834.JPG" /><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I was looking through blog updates last night (but not commenting - I'll do that as soon as I post this) and saw, to my amazement and amusement that Siobhan had posted her pic of this finish! All I can say is... that Siobhan sure does have good taste!! :) I'm working it on 40 ct. generic cream linen with the called for threads. I love this pattern and have been wanting to/ meaning to complete it for some time now. It seems to be going somewhat quickly, and if I could just get some consistent time in my stitchy chair, it would get done pretty soon, I think!</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Well, that's it for me for now... I'm considering spending the rest of my day hanging pictures in Leah's room & bathroom, and maybe finally putting some pics up in my "Nest" (aka, my craft room, my throne room, the room for none but she who rules this home)... maybe if I do that, it will motivate me to do the little bit of organizing I need to do in there and take some pics and post them on here for all to see? Hmm... we'll see!</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Until next time,</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Robin</span></p><p></p>MyLifesAStitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10759662056886022108noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883392324415324341.post-28740551461095440732010-01-29T02:03:00.005-05:002010-01-29T02:10:30.920-05:00In Loving Memory...<div align="center"></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></em></strong> </div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My grandpa...</span></em></strong></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpR9gFyY1M70JcDptx7tPGIkuTOTPf6eejm4CG6aDQPHFdp_uFtrPwrLwOuwzRSjhfiTnCcb0DNABlR5Kz29z2_umMrRY0MeAZAb45pYncYGVms_oeX5-HremJ6bqk_UqHKmWszrbS4lXP/s1600-h/GpaLeah1_4x6.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432054142103499538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpR9gFyY1M70JcDptx7tPGIkuTOTPf6eejm4CG6aDQPHFdp_uFtrPwrLwOuwzRSjhfiTnCcb0DNABlR5Kz29z2_umMrRY0MeAZAb45pYncYGVms_oeX5-HremJ6bqk_UqHKmWszrbS4lXP/s320/GpaLeah1_4x6.jpg" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Richard Elondus Smith</span></strong></em></div><div align="center"><em><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">September 4, 1927 ~ January 28, 2010<br /></span></strong></em></div>MyLifesAStitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10759662056886022108noreply@blogger.com8