Excited

Did you all have a wonderful relaxing weekend?!  How was your Thanksgiving dinner?!!!  Anyone go to boxmart or Target on Thursday night for fun, and walk off some calories?!

Just in case you were wondering, we had a great weekend!!!  Went to my cousins on Thanksgiving for the best dinner ever-- she is such an amazing cook and we played with the girls for hours.  They are soo cute-- they both have the biggest eyes and longest eyelashes!!   We left there and went home and put on a movie and I stitched a bit.  Friday we visited again with my family.  They had just gotten home with a Christmas tree and were looking forward to decorating it and the front lawn with lights.  So cute, the baby who just turned 1, scooted over to the tree and would touch the branches ever so slightly, turn around and look at you with the biggest grin......then clap her hands  :)


The biggest news I have to share with all of you this great weekend, is that I have 2 finishes to share with you.  Yes, 2.  The first I finished yesterday afternoon is Quaker Study by Carriage House samplings.  Stitched on 40ct vintage examplar from Lakeside with SNC.  I have had a love hate love hate relationship with this piece for sometime now and am more then thrilled to get it done.  I had this problem a few years back with another piece that I had started, loved the piece but couldnt stand working on it.  Why is that?!  It is a great piece and I already have the frame picked out, but wow, what a bugger.

Check.  So the other great finish I have to share with you is Dona Dorothea Gazano Y Garcia otherwise known as Double D, is done!!!!!!!!  I finished her about 12:05am (this morning) and cant believe how beautiful she really is.  She is stitched on 45ct lakeside with a variety of silks.  She is smokin hot!!!!!!  LOL.

What a lot of work she has to her, the bottom left side square and middle square are solid satin stitch and there is some over one, but mostly full cross.  Alot of color changes.   I am super excited about this finish!!!!!!  She was a joy to stitch, and I looked forward to it everyday.   I am also ecstatic that I have 2 more under my belt for 2011!!!!  It has been rough going :)

So the biggest question is--- what is next?!

I am truly Thankful

For so many things this year.  I am thankful for my husband, my family, friends, our health, shelter, food, employement,  etc., etc., etc.  Waking up everyday and being able to do the things I love-- each and everyday.  (Some of course are easier than others LOL) I am thankful that God has provided me with so many wonderful things-- (not all physical things either) and we are truly blessed. 
Today, we are spending Thanksgiving with my cousin and his family.... 2 precious healthy little girls.  It will be nice to relax, play with them and visit with family today.  I am looking forward to some pumpkin pie and a nice glass of wine (of course!)
I am thankful for the opportunities that we have to be creative, in many many ways, and to be able to share these ideas and projects with all of you.  I have met alot of people again this year that share my love for cross stitch and I am thrilled to have some of them now as my friend.  Each and every day is another opportunity and we cant waste them. 
I am excited to show you progress pics of double dee, they are progress pics from last week and earlier this week.  I have not taken the pics from last nights progress, but I am getting closer for sure.  My husband and I watched 2 movies last night, 1 being Smokey & The Bandit--- I had never seen these before and of course have heard of them.  They are pretty funny.  I had a good couple of chuckles with Jackie Gleason's character of Sheriff Buford.

Isnt she coming along beautifully????  I am so excited with the bottow right hand corner, I have loved this since I saw my friends piece this summer.  It was worth the wait.  I have the center satin stitch almost done, so I will post another pic of that in a day or so.  I am not sure how much stitching will be taking place today, but I am hoping at least SOME!!!  I hope everyone has a wonderful day today.  Eat lots of turkey, drink wine and have a great time with your friends and family!!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Hoopalooza

In my last post of Double Dee, I had a great comment asking me about the hoops I use for stitching.  As a matter of fact Michelle, your timing couldn't be better :)  I received an order today which included some new hoops. They are Hardwicke Manor Hoops from England.  A Friend of mine recommended these to me several years ago, and I have not looked back since.

  They come in several sizes, my favorite is the 6" for my every day stitching and they also have the 4" and the 5" for smaller pieces and they are great for traveling.  I bought a few more for my stash because I like a hoop with the WIPS I am working on, and it seems that lately I grab my super cute project bag, and I am hoop-less. 

Also, the quality of these hoops is like no other, and I want to make sure that I have several on hand, you never know :) 

I also received a few other goodies, but most exciting is the newest color in the Society of Soie Surfine silk/linen club.  Of course, the color in the picture is not near the beauty that it really is, so pale, slightly mint, but a hint of sage?!  I am the worst in comparisons, but you can get an idea.  Not in the club?  Check out www.societyofsoiesurfine.blogspot.com and read all about it!!  Simply gorgeous!!!

PS:  Thanks to the best shipping manager there is......no squishing :)

Moving along

It has been 4 days since I have been able to stitch and I am going crazy!!!!  Busy busy, but I hope to get some stitch time in tonight.  I wanted show you the progress from last week, I thought I would have more done by now..........I am sooooo close to finishing this row :)

I look forward to starting the satin stitch on the next row... arent the colors just fabulous?!  I cant wait to get this one finished.  I think it is going to make a lovely companion to Maria's Dechado!!!

So many color changes, needles are once again stuck into the side of the couch LOL.  But it makes it so much easier.


Stay tuned for the next update!

It is the 31st of October

I guess when I was younger, and was more active in dressing up for Halloween, going to crazy parties and having a super time, it would be more of a surprise that today is Halloween.   But, last night-- we called it goosy night, others mischief night-- you know the random toilet papering of trees, forking of the neighbors lawn--- went by without a 2nd thought.  Today, seeing the kids dressed up, I thought-- oh yes, it is Halloween.  Oh yes, and even dogs get dressed up :)

I wonder though, what is your favorite candy to eat or hand out to the trick-or-treaters??  Mine is snickers or butterfinger.  There are so many options though.......Chocolate..... period. :)

While for most of us, today is just another working day, another checkoff on the calender towards the next exciting Holiday.  Thanksgiving.  Yes, Thanksgiving.  Love a home cooked meal, fellowship with family and friends.   I cant believe that it is a little over 3 weeks away already!!!!!  I was at the mall about 2 weeks ago, and to my great surprise, holy smokes--------- the Christmas crap was already hung as decorations in the stores.  Now, dont read 'crap' as a negative thing--- believe me, I love Christmas like the next guy, (and yes, Merry Christmas is in my vocabulary).  I know that plans for the Holidays need to be underway- for the extensive parties we all love throwing and going to, preparing the food and choosing the perfect outfits.  All of us crafters have been thinking about Christmas at least since the summer, but stitching or sewing things takes time right?  I know that the stores have to put up the inventory to sell, BUT the STORE decorations are up earlier and earlier.  I would love to see a beautiful display of fall items, lets have one Holiday at a time.  I have worked retail for many many years, and know that these things are to get customers in the 'mood'  but for me,  not so much.  It is what it is.

Anyway.........I know that all the folks that got snow this past weekend are in the mood alright!!!!  My parents got around 12 inches and what a site to see.  He sent me a few pics, I thought I would share one with you.

I visited with some very lovely ladies this weekend, at a Halloween stitching party and I was thrilled to be there.  Such fun, seeing them dressed up, and seeing the different Halloween projects they were stitching at.  Alot of laughing goes on at these events, and I love it when my cheeks hurt!!  I didnt get any stitching done, however, I never do at these events, I always rip out when I go home....and you know that is no fun at all!


I have been stitching, with work still busy, I make myself stitch at least a bit every night.  This has helped me keep sane.  Double Dee is coming along great, I have the top half done and started the bottom half.

The linen is 45ct vintage meadow rue and it burns me that the color is SOO off in these pics.  However, most of you know what meadow rue looks like.  The colors are bright and I am loving her.  I have worked a small bit on Quaker Study,

I have been watching All in the Family while stitching Double Dee, and I just cant even.  Archie Bunker kills me!  Soo funny.  I look forward to watching a few more episodes tonight while stitching some more.  Enjoy the rest of your Halloween :)  Trick or Treat!

Its flying by

Where have I been you ask?  Daily I am sure that you look at your favorite blogs, to see no new posts.  Geez.....isnt that such a pest?!  What are our blogger friends up to?  Where have they been??  Well, I am one of them, and one of you :)  LOL.  I always wonder what folks are up too, but I know that it is always something else, other then stitching that comes in the way---- isnt that terrible?  Stitching should always be a priority right?!!  Oh sure, in a perfect world.  Too, in that world, we would get ALL the projects in our stash complete :)


So, what has been up with me?  In case you were dying to know........ work has me super busy, (which is GREAT) I have had little time for stitching.  I have made minor progress on 2 WIPS, but mostly work and oh yes, gallivanting.


In the last 2 weeks, I was in San Francisco, and WOW, is all I can say for the weather.  I have been there so many times when the weather was cool, damp, misting or overcast.  I know that the marine layer rolling in is truly fascinating and something to see, to watch roll in over the bay, and cover the golden gate bridge......but this time, I didnt see much of it.  October right?  If it was only like this all the time.  Went to a 49'ers game, watched them kick some serious Tampa Bucs butt!!!!!  48 to 3.  Nice job 9ers.  The new coach is really something.  Glad to see them making a comeback.


Edgar a while back reminded me of Alamo Square, where some of the most famous of Victorian homes are. I knew that I had wanted to see them for the longest time-- remember on the tv show Full House?  The opening credits always showed these 'painted ladies' and they are really something!!!

There were alot of folks enjoying the park that day, picnics, naps, running around.  Sooo clear right?!!!!
My favorite was on the opposite end of the park, 

So exquisite.  Built in 1890, and still standing beautifully.  The entire row of houses surrounding this park are so gorgeous, one is nicer then the next.  Alot of them are being restored, which is fabulous, you know they dont build them like this anymore :)

We drove around alot, next time I would like to do the famous '49 mile' driving tour, I have to read up more on it, but instead of walking (which I dont know how many blocks of these steep hills I would last in heels) would be fabulous.  You can see so much more this way too.  I love looking at all the houses.  One is more incredible than the next.  You almost get whip lash!!!!!!  Soo amazing.


One of the last stops before changing for dinner, was the Palace of Fine Arts.

Outstanding, breathtaking views, and the best part is, that some lucky (and I mean lucky) folks live right behind where I am standing taking this pic, and they look at THIS everyday!!!!!!  Can you even?! You can walk around the entire area, there were birds, fish and even turtles in this park.  I counted 11 turtles sunning themselves, not even skiddish!!!!  They must be used to being on display here!  


We went to Harris' Restaurant for dinner, famous for steaks, prime rib, etc., etc., and I love a good surf and turf.  I dont have it too often, but if you are going to do it, do it all the way or dont bother right?


Ordering the filet and fresh maine lobster, I had no idea what I was in for........

HELLO LOBSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!  You can hardly find the filet!!!!!!  LOL.  I couldnt believe my eyes!!!!!!!!  This beauty was 2 1/4 pounds of delicacy.  WOW is all I could say, I was laughing and shocked all at the same time.  I had to take a picture.  The sad part is, this big guy doesnt really have that much goodness to offer---- but I will say it was well worth it!!!!!


On the stitching front, not to much like I said earlier, however, I do have a progress pic of Quaker Study by Carriage House, which I dont believe I have posted at all yet.   

Almost halfway, but I havent touched this in so long, seems like months, when it has only been like 10 days.  Such a whirlwind these last 2-3 weeks have been.  Double Dee is coming along, and I mean she is, but slow and steady!!!!

I finished the top rows of name and alphabets, which I completely forgot about, I was too excited about all the dogs and deer I was stitching!  But maybe next week, I will have a few more stabs at her :)


Thanks for all your patience in waiting for the next posting on my blog, and then again for reading all the yada yada yada in my rambling.  I had a great time, and cant wait to go back again soon :)