Saturday, December 29, 2012

2012 Goals and A Look at 2013

Planned to do this post at a more reasonable time Saturday morning. Insomnia has come to visit and after lying in bed for over an hour I gave up. Here I am ready to wrap up 2012 and start afresh with 2013.

Here were my 2012 goals -

Winter Forest - x3 - LHN
Safe Harbor - Heritage Crafts
Guiding Light - Heritage Crafts 
I Pledge - La D Da
St Patrick bird - HIH
Easter bird - HIH
Thanksgiving bird - HIH
Birthday bird - my own inspired by HIH
6 Fat Men - L*K -- two done
Homeward Trail in Winter- magazine
Goodwill to Men - Falling Star
Holly Noel - JBW Designs
Christmas Blessing Sampler - Falling Star
Battle Hymn of the Republic - LHN
272 Words - Primrose Needleworks
Snow in Love - LHN
Silent Night - LHN
Seasons Greetings - BC
Snowflake Serenade - CCN
A Day at the Beach - CCN
4 Santa Portraits - Carol Emmer
Santas in Red - magazine
Winter Cardinal - magazine

Continue on with -
Blackbird - All Through the Night
Bunnies, Buds, & Berries - Katidid
Red Birds - magazine
Colorful Sky - Mystic Stitch
One Nation - ByGone Stitches
Birch Forest - Mystic Stitching
Portland Headlight Lighthouse - Calico Stitching

Plus I finished another 27 projects! I managed to get a whopping 48 pieces stitched. Not a record but nearly one finish per week! You'll notice I did finish two of the six Fat Men. And 272 Words is a SAL that just didn't fall together this year - we plan to attack it in 2013.

And that got me to thinking about 2013 - Care to see the list?

Since I am in a SAL of the Fat Guys/Snow Belles I'll list them first - Ice Queen, Blizzard Babe, Baby, It's Cold Outside, All Dressed Up, Snow House, Snow Friends, Snow Day, Frosty Friends, Snowed In, and Ready for Snow.

CalamityJr and I still plan to do 272 Words by Primrose Needleworks.

I have all the L*K Santa Snippets to do - Santa's Got the Goods, Merry HoHo, A Good Night, Socks and Underwear, 'Tis the Season, Ready or Not, Wanted!, Merry Friends, By Golly Be Jolly, Here Comes Santa Claus, Just Be Claus, and 2013 Santa Snippet.

Then I showed you the 3 Val's Stuff snowmen I fell for - Snow, More Snow, and Got Snow?

In looking through my patterns I came up with these - 1 of the 4 Santa Portraits by Carol Emmer (left over from 2012), Promise of Spring and 47 Hearts by SilverCreek Samplers, Tree Farm and Six Little Cardinals by LHN, Safe Harbour by Heritage Crafts, Falling Leaves (no designer name on it), and a pattern sent to me by CalamityJr's daughter.

I also fell in love with the Hare Series by Paulette at Plum Street Samplers - I'm going to do them all! Hare's Summer, Halloween, Happy Haunting, Easter, Lucky Day, Father's Day, Mother's Day, New Year, Autumn, Autumn Blessings, Winter, and Christmas. Have to wonder is there a Hare's Spring that I have missed?

And I WANT to FINISH - Colorful Sky by Mystic Stitch as my one BAP. Forgot - I have a mid-winter and birthday present to stitch too.

Now to total these up - Oh my Goodness - is that 49? Yep - it is! But, only 1 large piece, 11 are SAL, 16 are ornaments and the rest are small to medium in size. Nothing to serious when you think about it.

Although, by Jan 2nd I hope to be in the basement cleaning it out. Last year I put in 3 months making black and white photos for this year's Christmas tree. In 2013, I want the basement cleared out. No family should have so much stuff stored! Use it, pitch it, give it away, or sell it! And I want to get back to "Genealogy Wednesdays."

I fell off my weight wagon with a thump over Christmas. Actually, when I found out my scales were broken and the new ones showed very little weight loss I went into a funk. I used Christmas as an excuse to eat cookies, candy, and just plain overeat. I stopped exercising and am now feeling the pain again in my back/joints. So, somehow, I must find a balance between exercising and sitting to stitch. Any suggestions are welcome! :) Is there a way to stitch and ride a stationary bicycle??

When I got up at 1:30 the snow wasn't falling by 2a the cars were covered. We are to get 2-4" tonight/Saturday morning. Looks like the weather man nailed it again! And more snow Monday/Tuesday. Think we are trying to make up for the winter-less winter of 2011-12!

I'm off to update my Goal Page and then head to bed again. DH is up at 4:30 - maybe I'll be able to sleep by then!
Denise

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Oh, the Weather Outside is Frightful...

Let it snow - let it snow - let it snow! The weatherman predicted 6-12" of the pretty white stuff. We got maybe 5" total. It is absolutely gorgeous out there. We are to have another 2" over the weekend. :)

Here are some scenes from our Christmas ~

Christmas at Mom's
Christmas Morning
(Didn't realize how close these shirts are until the post. The top shirt is teal and the bottom is powder blue. But, they look the same! Well, one does have a hood. Guess my favorite color!)

And here's something that caught me by surprise ~

Garin playing cards with Bridget on Christmas Eve
Finished another Santa just a few moments ago. 

I'll Get my Elves on That!
by L*K
scrap of linen
DMC floss
Think I'll take a small break from the Santas and move on to some snowmen. 


The middle and right patterns were presents this year. I think they will be new winter ornaments for the tree. Thinking 2013 may be the year of ornaments! 

Been giving my 2013 stitching list a bit more thought lately. Going to have to make out the official list tomorrow. My 2012 list didn't have as many finishes as I had hoped maybe 2013 will be better. Maybe I should rephrase that - I finished plenty in 2012 but not from the list!

Tomorrow Keri and I will venture forth to Pier 1. Hope the snow kept the bargain shoppers away today and there are bargains to be found. Wish me luck! 

Off to heat up dinner - that's the great thing about making lasagna - make too much and leftovers for days! :)
Denise



Monday, December 24, 2012

Merry Christmas!


Merry Christmas to All!


Have a safe and happy holiday!

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Another Santa Finished!

Finished this one last night. Wow that sled felt massive!

Santa Claus is Coming to Town
by L*K
DMC and Hand dyed floss
scrap of linen
So, as I waited on the boy to come home and started this one -

I'll Get my Elves on That
L*K
DMC and Hand dyed floss
scrap of linen
This Santa has some massive clothes! That's well over 2 hours of stitching there.

And DH came through with a frame for Red Birds -

Red Birds
by Marie Barber
Need to get glass for this and then get it on the wall. Not sure I'll get it done for Christmas. Doesn't matter - I think this will be hanging on my wall all year long.

The cookies are done...well, except for those raisin ones. Courtney and I will attack those bad boys tomorrow!

Otherwise, I am set to greet the red suited one. Now, if DS is able to get out of work Christmas Eve. Somehow he missed the memo we were having everyone over. Teenage boys... sigh!

Okay - I'm off to nap.Only 4 hours of sleep last night.
Denise 

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

A Present, A Finish, and A Start

Good Morning Everyone! It's another gray day in Ohio. We are to clear up later today and I hope the weatherman is right. There is the possibility of snow on Friday! Crossing my fingers we get enough that it lasts to Christmas.

Yesterday on my way into the house I stopped at the mailbox. I found a package tucked in with the other mail. In the few seconds it took for me to pull the mail from the box I racked my brain trying to remember if I had any outstanding presents floating in the system. Nothing came to mind. Ha, I didn't order anything it was from April!




Thank you April! What a wonderful surprise! Your ornament now hangs at the top of my stitching tree. And the ric-rac will be perfect to finish off these L*K Santas. I can't wait to complete a couple more so I can do some finishing!

Speaking of completing a Santa ~

Unwrap the Joy
L*K
unknown linen
with DMC and Hand dye floss

These little guys are quiet fun. Although, I think I've used the last Whisper on this one. I just didn't like the way it seems to clump. Maybe I was doing something wrong, but I decided not to fuss about it too much and go to a floss that I know how to handle.

I started this one over the weekend ~

Santa is Coming to Town
L*K
Today is Day 2 of cookie making. The flavor - chocolate chip. Not sure if I'll make 2 or 3 batches. Rob and Logan each want their own batch and I want to send another one to Rob's workplace. I'm sure the men there will eat cookies.

That leaves chocolate with vanilla chips, chocolate crimples, and raisin to go. The raisin cookies could be a tough cookie for me. I've NEVER done a filled or sugar cookie. AND this is Rob's grandmother's recipe. She used a coffee cup as a measuring cup and I tried  translate her instructions. Oh, this could be an epic disaster.

Better go get breakfast and get busy. Otherwise, I may be pulling cookies out of the oven at midnight!
Denise

Thursday, December 13, 2012

All is Well!

I swear, all I had to do is go look in my stash and see if I had more fabric yesterday. I did and now all the Santa projects are kitted. Guess I was just feeling sorry for myself.

Here's my progress from last night -

Unwrap the Joy
Lizzie Kate
28ct Summer Khaki
DMC and hand dyed floss

And I decided to take pictures of those two finishes that need beads. At least you can get the idea of what they are supposed to look like.

Christmas
jardesigns
28ct PTP Valor
floss included in pattern

Peace on Earth
Katidid
28ct Jobelan BayLeaf
DMC floss

Made some cookies today. Now, to behave and not have more than two per day! Thank goodness there were only 41 in the batch!

Think I'm going to spend the rest of the afternoon stitching and waiting on Rob to get home.
Hope today has been a happy on for you!
Denise

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

As My Grandmother Would Say...

Cussy Damn! That was her harshest language. I never heard anything worse. It took a LOT to get her to even mutter this. Well, today finds me muttering this and much worse.

Remember a few weeks ago I went to my LNS and brought home all those L*K Santas? I thought I had done so well getting two pieces of Cashel (14x18" and 15x20") Ha, I thought those two pieces would cover all the Santas. Did I even look at the stitch size? I don't remember but if I did - what was I thinking??

Needless to say, this morning found me starting to kit them up. Imagine my surprise when I am writing down the stitch size and add 4" to each...those small 6x6" suddenly became 10x10" projects. I had enough fabric for 4 of the projects. Oh, there will be a few inches of scrap but I don't think I can quilt them together and make a bigger piece of linen.

I just went to an ONS and looked at the prices. Umm, that pen I got DH and those 3 spindles now seem like wasted money. So, I must wait to order the linen. I HATE waiting. Oh, I could transfer some money and call it good but I don't want to.

So now I'm pouting. What a child I am. How dare I have to wait - that's the thing about the internet. Instant gratification. Point, click, and voila -- the item is on its way.

And then also today - I found out I broke my memory card for my camera. Somehow I managed to break the lock thing on the side of the card. I can't take anything on or off the card. I think the lock thingy is still in my computer.

Sigh!

Well, I'm going to drag my heiny into the stitching room and prepare my 4 pieces of linen. Guess I'm having my Monday today.

Crossing my fingers things go well from here -
Denise

Monday, December 10, 2012

If It Would Just Snow!

I am not a fan of gray deary days. Seems Ohio has had its share recently. Now if it were snowing - I'd be thrilled. But, it just keeps raining...

Had a blast over the weekend! All the women from my father's family came to the house. We had soup and sandwiches and then headed to the Candle Lighting Ceremony. Forgot to take my camera with me to that. Kinda glad too! I felt like a pack mule - all my pockets were full to bursting and my coat weighed a ton. Still not sure why I insisted on taking my large winter coat when it was 50 degrees out.

Here are some shots from the weekend -

Back Row - Keri, Tammy, Me, Megan, and Courtney
Front Row - Karen, Carol-Sue, Alivia, Melanie, and Britney
Alivia and Cohen
Wanted a pic of the two youngest - and you just never know what you may get.
Megan and Keri circa 1988
Megan and Keri today
The girls found a picture of themselves on the wall and decided to recreate it. Facial expressions and all. My how time has flown! These two are 9 months to the day apart in ages and are first cousins once removed.

Finished a couple of stitches - still need to do the beading. Haven't taken pictures yet because of that fact. They are Christmas by jardesigns and Peace on Earth by Katidid. This week finds me plinking away on my Fat Guy/Belles SAL. I have my snowman for the month done and am trying to get some of the 'extra' stitching finished.

Nothing much on the agenda this week. Tomorrow I go to see DD's tree and over the weekend to my sister's. All the shopping and wrapping is finished. Stocking stuffer's need to be stuffed in the stockings. Otherwise, I have some special food to buy for the holiday

Sent out my Christmas cards today. Wonder what the mailman thought of that bundle in my mailbox. Starting to get a few! And they look smashing in my new card holder.

Do you think I can delay making dinner for a bit longer and go stitch? There is this tree that needs snow and I really want to finish it!

Have a great day!
Denise


Saturday, December 1, 2012

It's Finally December!

And that means I can post about my L*K SAL! Been waiting for what seems like forever -- haha -- it's been a month. Drr. Anyway, you'll have to forgive me the wrinkles - forgot to get the iron out.


I finished Snow Fun this last month (minus the button) and worked on 6 other borders. Think December will find me stitching the snowman in the bottom left corner and finishing those other borders.

On Thursday night Logan scored some free tickets (because he works for the theater) to Tap Dogs. I had never heard of this show and am so incredibly happy I went! Go to the link and check out the videos! One of the most high energy shows I've ever seen. When did men start tap dancing and when did tap dancing become sexy?? These guys rock!

Then yesterday I did some lacing ~

Guiding Light
by Heritage Crafts
Christmas Tea
by Plum Street Samplers
That frame WAS made for Guiding Light. I must get another for the companion piece. Won't they look great on my wall this summer?

Found out yesterday morning DH had to work today. That meant no Christmas tree or movie today. He promises the movie for tomorrow. Since Courtney and Sheila (DD's bff since 4th grade) were here I enlisted Courtney to help bring up the tree from the basement. That was a trip! We made it though!

I tarfed (spelled backwards) around with it for about 4 hours and came up with this. Rob made it home and just smiled. Guess that means I did okay. (remember, you can go to the link on my sidebar to enlarge any of the pictures)

Christmas 2012

bottom - Rob and Courtney Christmas morning 2011
top - Logan, Courtney, and I - Myrtle Beach 2007

top - Me, middle - Courtney, bottom - Logan

I knew the photo existed of me playing with the tree. Made it a point all those years ago to get one of each of the kids. Too cool to put them all together. 

This morning finds me vacuuming the carpet again. Glitter does not come up very well. And there is glitter everywhere in this house - the ribbon at the top of the tree was COVERED in it, the reed curly things are COVERED in it, and some of the ornaments too. You should have seen me looking in the bathroom mirror at myself last night -- I looked like a should have been twirling around on the tree too. 

~~~~ Edited to add ~~~~
I forgot to show my stitched ornament's tree!

and a side view ~ 


This was an easy one! And no railing system to put up to display them. We have been trying to hook up with a store to buy the loft's railing and keep missing the store hours. Phooey, no railing in time for Christmas, but we may take that money and go get a new stove and dishwasher! Ha, now that's something I can get into! 

Think I'll work on my grocery list today - tis the time for cookies! And I must start making my list for foods needed for next weekend. Having all the women in the Mathews' family over for soup and sandwiches then we will go to Roscoe Village to shop and sing at the Candle-lighting. 

Update on the diet - I have now lost 22 pounds since August! I am using the Lose It! app on my android and it is amazing! It's a free app that counts your calories for you, helps with your goals, and keeps track of everything you would like to watch. The people pleaser part of me enjoys it when I am below my allotted calories and the competitive part likes the little mind games I play with myself. 

The app (and my will power) have avoided the bowl of M&M's on my bar with no problem. Why? One quarter cup of M&M's has 210 calories. That's a lot of other snacks I can eat. I have only gone over my allotted calories once and that was Thursday night - we stopped at Hardee's after the show and I got onion rings. My aunt got me a apple turnover - it was the turnover that got me! 

Well, I'm off to herd turtles (as Coni would say)
Hope this weekend finds you enjoying yourself and stitching!
Denise