A new Challenge

Who doesnt like a challenge in life?  I for one am all over a challenge-- each and every week I feel like there is some sort of challenge in our lives, so why not look forward to one?!!!
Perhaps you haven't heard already, but our good stitching friend Nicola has created a great challenge and EVERYONE is invited to join it!  What is it you ask?  Well, it is a Scarlet Letter Sampler challenge.  This is the pick me up I have been looking for!!!!  Classic samplers.  Start, complete, or start and start any of the fantastic Scarlet Letter Samplers and post about it!  I have loved these samplers for such a long time and I have finished at least one-- off the top of my head, I think one :)
So remember the crazy start challenge that we all did in 2010?  Some crazier then others?!!!  Well, lets get going on another one!!!!!!  I am looking forward to seeing what others choose to start, continue on and finish.  I have some started, but I have to see what I can dig up from the basement in the next few weeks.  WOWZA!!!!!  Check out Nicola's Scarlet Letter Year and join today!  She has done a fantastic job putting this all together, and oops!!!!!  Did I mention there are monthly drawings?!!!!!!!  And there is some AWESOME things :)
I have been busy with our SAL stitching the SDW sampler.  I am really excited about it.  I have made adjustments with the colors, (but that is nothing new right?)

I have more of the mane done, but I dont have an updated pic at this point, but that is ok.  More to share next time.

I have negleted dutch beauty and E Mears, but with Thanksgiving last week, I had some extra stitching time to catch up on SDW.  Maybe tonight I will see what else is looking at me with sad eyes!
Christmas time is just around the corner and I am getting excited-- even though it is cold and I am not that much of a fan (but, with the proper outerwear, I am happy--thank you (you know who you are!!!!) LOL)  and the Christmas lights are popping up more and more.  Christmas trees are being decorated.  I feel like starting something Christmasy---but you never know :)  Until next time!

Have a great week!

The Loss of

It has been a rough few past weeks and stitching has come in handy alot of the times.  I just haven't felt like posting a blog, or really being social or whatever. I can put on a happy face pretty good.  I am sure that everyone has felt the loss of a family member-- whether human or pet, loss of a good friend, loss of a job, loss of a home or Country, loss of ?????  Well, the last few weeks I know several folks feeling a loss in their lives.  And you can fill in your own blank on which loss it has been, but is has been tough for all of us.  My thoughts and prayers are with each and everyone of them.
How many of you have dealt with a rotten person that rips you a new one for NO real good reason? I read a few weeks ago that a poor woman received a rotten email about her own blog.  How dare they?  Lately I think they exist in great numbers--and it keeps growing.  Because you have stress, doesn't mean it should go past your venting buddy.  Get over it, and get over it quickly.  I am so tired of it all already.  I have come into contact with my fare share of rotten (today being one of those rotten morons--who thinks he is all that and a big bag of tricks, among others), and I know I could be rotten, we all can be sometimes, but I have been re-evaluating life lately, and feeling such said loss, there is a lot other things I have new perspective on.  Stress is everywhere.  Some stress can be avoided but believe me, it isn't easy, and there is good and there is bad, but life I feel is WAY to short.  Live in peace with others, stop being so rotten, be more caring of your neighbor!!!!   ---- Life is WAY to short to get all my stash complete :) AND not much longer to EAT A HOSTESS TWINKIE!!!!  LOL

Enough venting for one day ?  LOL.  I do like to use this blog as a venting post sometimes, as many of you like to do, and it is kind of comforting that people can relate it it. 
Like I said earlier, I have had some time to stitch, and making some progress on Dutch Beauty.  The color arrangement is just gorgeous, and it is so worth the time and effort to make it all flow smoothly.

Almost to the half way point, however I have been working on Elizabeth Mears also.  This one has been a great filler project if you will, remember that DB thread is almost everywhere :(.   I can take Elizabeth with me to people's homes, stitching in the car, and it is easy.  No stress :)

The light bulb went on the other day when I was re-taught how to do the queen stitch, and I have learned this a dozen times and it never clicked.  Finally, I am excited and ready to do the next row of queen stitch.  I have to do the four sided stitch above the bottow row in the pic of over-one.  Easy right?  I am anxious to get to that house~!
I also joined a SAL with 5 of the nicest ladies you could find; started by Nicola of Stitching by a Cornish Sea Shore.  The SDW German Band sampler.  You have seen fantastic progress by these ladies already, and I am bringing up the rear.  Never the less, I will get my progress pics going shortly.  I have actually started the horse :)  It is a gorgeous project, and at this point have converted the colors but yet found myself last night and this morning making a few other adjustments.  This is what I love about stitching.  Making it your own :)  After I get a bit more stitched on SDW, I will share pics too.
Until next time.  Make it a point to Be nice to everyone :)