A Month? It's been a Month?

I had no idea just how long it's been since I posted last. It has been an eventful month - mostly filled with end-of-the-school-year stuff and I haven't had gobs of stuff to say. I've been a good stitcher though - or well, I've been trying......

I've taken a couple of classes since I last posted - one that had me digging into that mysterious tin that I posted about a while ago, another was a great canvaswork class at a new-to-me shop. I'll have to post the details on those later though as I can't find the pictures I took! I must have offloaded them somewhere in my black-hole of a computer.... Meanwhile....

Here's an update on my Lizzie*Kate Double Flips - I haven't been devoting a ton of time to this lately, but it's calling to me again:



I have to admit that lately, Poppy has been calling to me more than anything else. Here she is so far - she was much further along, but I discovered that having a Math degree doesn't enable me to count. Therefore, I had a fit of frogging and I'm in the process of catching up again:


She's just so pretty. I am looking forward to getting back to her.

I stopped working on Poppy and the double flips to stitch a biscornu for DS#2's teacher. It turned out really pretty. But, my camera doesn't like to focus, so it took an almost impossible to see picture. It's so bad I daren't post it. I even took more than one shot and not one of them is fit for the human eye. I really need a decent camera. *sigh* Trust me when I say it looked pretty???

One picture that *did* turn out was a picture of the flowers that I did for the teachers and crossing guards. Every year I try and do up a bunch of fresh flower arrangements for the various teachers that touch my son's life. Here's what this year's bunch looked like:


DS#2 wrote all the thank-you cards on each bunch of flowers too. They're always well received and appreciated by all. They smelled heavenly too. Six arrangements in all and the best part is - I get the leftover flowers for myself, so the kitchen is smelling pretty too.

I am so glad that the school year is over. Today we all just lounged around the house and were complete slugs. I don't believe we did a single productive thing all day. 'Tis good for the soul! Although I imagine tomorrow I should goad the children into dealing with the mess created by bringing home all their school stuff. I feel a paper flurry coming on.

For now though, I'm off to put needle to fabric....

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Done!

It feels like forever. It was a battle waged with needle and evil DMC metallic thread. The battlefield was black Lugana. The good have emerged victorious. Two, count 'em, two models done! Done! Done! Done! I'd show pictures, but they won't be published for another month or so. But they're done. Did I mention they're done?

As a reward to myself for emerging victorious, I started this:


Preplexed? Well, I've dubbed it the Big Red Blob (to go with the Big Grey Blob). It's really Nora Corbett's Poppy. I am so in love with this piece. I started it at midnight last night after putting the last bead in the last model. Did I mention the models are done?

Over the May long weekend (May 17 - 18 for the Canucks) I took my Lizzie Kate Double Flips with me instead of the model as the cottage isn't necessarily the best place to stitch on black fabric. I made some good progress:


I've now received the rest of the patterns to finish this piece. Now that the models are done (just in case you didn't notice that they're finished), I can devote some more time to this piece. It's such a nice uncomplicated stitch. Pretty too.

My friend and I are still plugging away at the Creativ Festival Sampler too. We missed a couple of weeks in there due to sick kids (they took turns so she missed one week and I missed the next), but we're still moving forward:




Please pardon the fat cat tummy. Callie decided she needed to be in the picture. I'm not sure of her choice of anatomy though.....

Off to stitch something that isn't a model. Did I mention I'm done the models???

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Happy Birthday To Me....

Today is my birthday and I realize I'm not a kid anymore - I'm really not that excited about them. But, it was awfully cute to find adorable cards from DH and the kidlets this morning and to have both of the Grade 2 lunchrooms that I supervise sing me Happy Birthday. I just could have done without the 'Are you 1? Are you 2? Are you 3?.... ' part. I told them to stop because it would probably take the entire lunch time to count that high! ;-)

It'll likely be a quiet day today, seeing that it is Monday. However yesterday we had a birthday party for both me and my Mom - her birthday was April 30. We were also celebrating her finally getting her cast off. She's still swollen and sore, but happy to be able to scratch again.


Today I'm also left thinking about my other mother - the one who hauled me around for 9 months and made an astonishing choice - to give me up for adoption. I'm so sad that I've never been able to meet Ellie (my birthmother) and tell her how grateful I am for her choice. She gave me to two people who wanted me so much it's hard to believe. I recently finished reading this book:


It details the stories of dozens of women who in the 1950s, 60s and 70s relinquished children for adoption. After reading it I think I have a little better idea of just what my birthmother faced when she got pregnant out of wedlock.

So, today, I miss her and am sorry I can't meet her or talk to her.

I am blessed though by her brother and his wife who have gladly welcomed me into the family and who remember my birthday, every year since I found them.

Stitchwise: I'm living in the land of the never ending models, so nothing to share today. I'm still resisting the urge to open my mystery can, but barely. My friend and I are getting together on Wednesday, so I imagine we'll fall to the urge then. It's hard though. It just sits there on the bookcase, taunting me. Can't you hear it? Evil bit of goods that is.

I think I'll go kit up Nora Corbett's "Poppy" that I picked up a couple of weeks ago. There's just something about it I can't resist - and maybe that's just what I need for a birthday treat to me.

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CreativFestival Goodies...

My friend and I tossed our respective children to our DH's for the day (kids were in school for most of it, so they did get off easy) and spent a wonderful day at the festival.

We wandered, we shopped, we mused on crafts we weren't into, we visited with friends, we sat in on a lecture, we took a workshop, we did a make-it-and-take-it. Basically, we had mucho fun.

Here's the stash acquisitions:


I bought the 'Crabby All Year' series from Raise the Roof - it's the ultimate antithesis to all the monthly series out there right now. It says things like for February - Love Stinks or for April - Taxes or November - Relatives.... You get the idea... :-) I also picked up a copy of TW's Fantasy Collection because it was shockingly cheap - too good to leave behind, even though I know I own at least 2 of the charts in the book already. I also picked up a kit that makes a little tuck away pillow. I've made tuck aways in the past, but the instructions with this kit are better than some I've seen as scaling the pillow for different sized designs is clearer. At some point I'll give it a go.

More stash:


I found a cute little needlepoint canvas of a ladybug with all the fibres for a good price, some fat quarters for as yet undertermined things, a bobbin holder that's purple, and some Piecemaker 26s. The Piecemakers were astonishingly cheap - and I bought them from a sewing notions booth. Happy days all around.

Let's see - class & make-it-and-take-it:

On the left it a little bit of the Thunderline Brocade that was a 45-minute workshop that we took. It was taught by Anna-Marie Winter and happily used one of my favorite fibres, Silk Mori. The stitch is really pretty and will make a nice background or filling stitch. I enjoyed it, plus, I got to break out the new tacks I found at the dollar store - they've all got happy faces on the ends and pretty colours. I'm so easy to please it's stupid.

In the middle isn't a class, but it's stash. I found these little zippered purses in a booth - they were cheap, well made and will make great little fibre pouches. On the right is a make-it-and-take-it class - I made a little hexagonal box. Very cute, very easy, no sewing. It isn't completely finished as I have to stitch a little design for the top (the design was included in the kit) and stick it on. It was lots of fun. ;-)

My new toy:


This light is from the Daylight company - and get this - it runs on 4 AA batteries!!!!!!!! Is that not the coolest thing? It is very light, gives a really bright light (comparable to my OTT floor light) and can clip on to a stitching frame (it has a little lead that goes from the battery base to the clip). It has an AC adapter too, but it'll be amazing to take with me to classes - I won't go blind and I won't be tied to sitting near an outlet anymore. This is good. This is very good. Added bonus - we got an amazing deal on it, so it didn't bankrupt me either. I like new toys.

My last acquisiton of the day:

What's in the tin, you ask? Well, I don't know. One of the shops at the show was selling these tins. The catch? You have to go to the store for a class that will use the contents of the tin. We won't know what we're making until we get there. It sounds like a lot of fun, but I doubt I'll be able to wait until the end of May (when I'm taking the class) to open the tin. We'll see how long I hold out. :-) Watch this space for when I decide I can't wait anymore.

Off to play with my new toys!

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Ahhh, that feels better...

Well, finally got back to my new template and mokeyed around with it until I'm happy. I think it'll do - lighter anyway since Spring seems to have arrived finally!

No pictures today - just working on the models.

Tomorrow the CreativFestival opens and I'm spending the day with a friend at the show. I'm looking forward to it, but know there will only be enough happening to keep me interested for one day - the spring show isn't much to remark upon, but I'll see what I see.....

I will answer a couple of SBQ's, since I'm here 'n all.....

From April 3:

Suggested by Terri (http://stitchwraith.blogspot.com/)
What items do you consider essential to your needlework that you keep in your stitching bag?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2008/04/sbq-the-essentials/

Let's see, for me it would be needles, two pairs of scissors (one for metallics, one for other fibres), a dololly, 6 inch ruler, laying tools, pen, highlighter & clear post-it flags. Magnets too if they're currently unattached to a project....

From April 10:

Suggested by Jennifer (http://sweetpeastitches.blogspot.com)
What is the most complicated piece you've ever completed?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2008/04/sbq-complications/

Well, this is a complicated question! I guess it would be any piece that I've done that involves more than just basic cross-stitch. I've done lots of different stitches on lots of different pieces. I can't really say any one screams out 'most complicated'. They all have their challenges, don't they (even if it's just finishing them)?

And finally, from April 23 (coincidentally, my 14th wedding anniversary too...):

Suggested by Christine (http://coffeecupthoughts.wordpress.com)
How do you handle blended threads? Do you kit the blends up before you
start a piece, or do you grab what colors you need and blend when the
need arises? If you kit up the blends beforehand, how do you store
them? Do you have another option for blends to share?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2008/04/sbq-blends/

Hmmmmm - well, let's see... I guess it would depend on the complexity of the piece overall. For a large TW, I imagine I'm likely to pull the blends together before starting as best I can and I'd likely wind them on bobbins and label them for ease of use. For something small though, I'm more likely to just blend as I need to - although I may pull out a magnetic needle card and leave a needle threaded with a blend (and labeled appropriately) just to make things a little easier. I guess it would just depend!

Well, off to wrap a birthday present for a birthday party DS#2 is attending tomorrow evening, then maybe I'll catch ER before bed!

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....blog undergoing renovations, please be patient!....

When Life Intervenes....

...my blog seems to go to pot. I am still here, I am still reading blogs and I am occasionally commenting on them. Really.

So, what's been going on??? Well, let's see.... Just after my last blog post my parents returned from a holiday in Cuba. They had seen enough snow (they live about an hour North West of where I live right in the middle of something called the Snow Belt - trust me, they get snow!) and wanted some sun and sand. Well, they didn't get too much of either - on the 4th day of their trip, my mother slipped and fell in the bathroom of the hotel, breaking her left wrist in two places! A trip through the Cuban medical system had four people holding her down while the doctor straightened and re-set her wrist. Can you say ouch??????

She returned home upset, weepy and in a cast that went from her armpit to knuckles. She has never before broken a bone and was just really undone by the whole experience. I made her go to her own family doctor for an x-ray and sure enough, her wrist was not set straight. So another week passes before she gets an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon. I made the drive up to my parent's house and drove them both to the surgeon (my dad doesn't see very well and isn't the best at driving in unfamiliar places - my mom wasn't driving anywhere, so that left me). Luckily the surgeon felt that he didn't need to re-break and re-set her wrist but instead took off the monster cast, straightened her wrist to his satisfaction (a somewhat painful experience for my Mom, but it beats surgery) and set her up with a handy, dandy fibreglass cast that ends a couple inches below her elbow and leaves the knuckles on her hand free.

It was a stressful experience all around, but Mom is on the mend now and will get her cast off in another week or so - then she'll have a splint for another week or two, then off to physio most likely.

Anyway, don't go to Cuba.

In more stitch-related news - I am working on two models right now, so my time is mostly spent there. However, I did manage to squeeze in some time on a few other projects, so here's the skinny:

First up, Nantucket Rose or The Big Grey Blob:


She's coming along nicely and I'm enjoying her, but I'm really getting sick of 5 shades of grey. I'm heading into greens next...

I started to lose a little of my stitching mojo after I got to this point on NR and realized that I really needed to do something that doesn't involve little x's. Don't mistake me, I'm still a cross stitcher, but I really needed a change of pace, so I picked up one of my class pieces from last fall. It's called Triangulations and it has been designed by Anna-Marie Winter:


I was strongly reminded about why I love Japanese-style embroidery. It's just so *pretty*. The dark blue is stitched in Kreinik Silk Mori - and believe it or not, all the little squares are stitched with the same fibre. I used 4 strands of Silk Mori and my laying tool and a good chunk of time. It was heaven. The lighter blue is Silk Serica which is a pain to work with (if it happens to catch on the canvas it frays and goes bad, very, very bad) but I do like the finished effect. I'll go back to this one the next time I'm fed up with little x's.

My friend and I continue to progress on our sampler from the CreativFestival:



Now, before you hit comment - no, I did not spell Creativ wrong. No, it doesn't need an E on the end. It is the name of the Festival - CreativFestival - no e. Does it drive me loopy? Yes. Am I tempted to add the e? Yes. Will I? No, because then I won't be describing the festival. The proofreader in me squirms every time I see it (I'm the proofreader for A Needle Pulling Thread). Someday I'll get over it, right? (Sorry for how wavy it looks - I haven't got it mounted straight in my Q-snap and didn't feel like fixing it!)

And finally, because I have the resistance of a gnat, I had to start this:



I have to give this one points - it stitches up fast and easy. It's my reward for when I've spent some time on the models. I think it's saving my sanity there - more black fabric.

Off to work on the models for a bit - then maybe I can make that thing say Love instead of Lov. :-)

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And now back to our regularly scheduled stitching.....

Model is done and delivered. I am free of the evil metallic DMC.
Until it's time to start the next model, but we won't talk about that
right now, will we?

In other news, the latest issue of A Needle Pulling Thread is now
out - you'll find it in Canada at Chapters and Michaels. In the US,
look for it at Books-A-Million, Barnes & Noble and JoAnn's fabrics.
There's a ton of things in it for the stitchers out there. Never mind
the fact that it's great eye candy. :-)

I have no stitching to show as I've been solely focused on the model
(whose idea was it to stitch black on black anyway?), so you'll have
to content yourself with a picture of one of my cats. Mojo is known
as the invisible cat - few people have ever seen her outside of DH
and the two DS'. Most people don't believe that she actually exists
- she tends to hide if there is anyone about but 'her' people.



Please forgive the not-so-great photograph - she never photographs
well and my camera and I have been arguing over the use of the
flash lately... (I'm losing the battle, in case you're wondering.)

Since I'm here, I know I haven't done the tag I got recently(well,
okay, it was a month ago!), so I'd better catch up:

1. Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post THE RULES on your blog.
3. Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.
4. Tag 7 people and link to them.
5. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.

Now I'm not going to tag anyone since I'm so far behind and this
has been just about everywhere. But I'll try to come up with 7
things....

1. I hate onions, but have a passionate love affair with
French Onion Soup.
2. I hate the smell of cooking broccoli, cauliflower or
brussel sprouts, but can and do prepare them for others
and have been told that they're great.
3. I make bread from scratch *without* a bread machine.
It's really not that hard, you know.
4. I have the only children on the planet who stand in the
grocery store with me and beg me to buy white bread - I
only buy whole wheat as a rule..... Clearly I am Mean Mommy.
5. I hate Tim Horton's coffee (I know it's dreadfully un-Canadian
of me, but I can't help it.). Oddly enough, people continue to give
me gift cards to the place (I'm not keen on the donuts either.).
6. I love to watch hockey live and in person. Am lukewarm towards
televised hockey. DH dislikes either.
7. I have a hopeless addiction to wire-edged ribbon. I have a really,
really big Rubbermaid container that is practically full to bursting.
I don't need any more, but yet it keeps appearing in my shopping
bags. Then it comes home, mates with my other ribbons and makes
more. I really do need help. Maybe. I can make really pretty florist
bows with it though!
8. (I know, overkill, but I have to add this....) I like French Toast
with ketchup on it. Most folks like Maple Syrup, but I grew up
with ketchup on it. I blame my mother. She's English.

*whew* Done. Hopefully that hasn't scared everyone away with my
wierdness.

And just to really bore you to tears, here's the latest SBQ:

When you stitch a pattern that you have downloaded do you
print out the pattern or do you stitch directly from your
computer screen?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2008/03/sbq-downloads/

I always print the pattern out. I can't stitch from electronic
copies because then all the highlighter I use to keep track of
where I've been really messes up the computer screen. :-)

Off to spend a night on Nantucket Rose - she's hardly seen
the light of day in months!

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I have no willpower....

So, my websurfings led me here. So then I had to do this:

Easter Dragonlet
Copyright © Dragon Dreams Inc.
Stitched on 25-count Pink Lugana with DMC Threads

Isn't he adorable? And he only took a couple of hours to stitch. I'll have to get around to making him into a tuck-away pillow so he can hang near my front door to greet all visitors.

This wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the fact that I've got 3 models that need to be stitched. One needs to be finished by next week (but it's well underway, so not a huge panic there), the other two I have a little more time on, but they still should be worked on. Oh well, soon.

In the meantime, I finished a couple other things:

Bouquet for Cheryl
Copyright © Needlemania by Marc
You can find the chart here.
Stitched on 32 count Opalescent Lugana - Ice by Sugar Maple Fabrics using DMC 4240 (almost 4 full skeins of it!)

I love, love, love, love how this piece turned out. I've had the Lugana in my stash for a very long time and was looking for the perfect project for it. This is it.

Next up is my February ornie - that was actually finished in February - I just didn't make it to the computer in time to post it in February:

A Christmas Wish of Health And Happiness
2006/2007 Complimentary Chart from Blue Ribbon Designs
Stitched on 28-count mystery Linen (it's a Lugana, I think) with DMC

I like how this turned out and it certainly stitched up quickly. I don't think I'll manage an ornament for March though - the model work is too pressing now. Guess I'll have to do two in April to make up for it!

And lastly, my friend and I have been making slow but steady progress through the 20th Anniversary Sampler for the CreativFestival. Only working on it once a week doesn't give us huge amounts of progress, but it is satisfying that we seem to finish one band a week. Things might slow down a bit now because we're heading into some large cross-stitch sections. Time will tell, I guess:



Oh, and the final showing of my lack of willpower? I caved and signed up for the Lizzie*Kate Double-Flips thing. Like I don't have enough to do. *sigh* If anyone finds my willpower, would you please give it back?

I know I've been tagged by Rebecca - but I think this post has gone on long enough - I'll do that later.... :-)

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Life in the Fast Lane....

Egads! Has it really been 3 weeks since I posted last?

Life continues here, but at a seemingly rapid pace. I've been running flat out since my last post, mostly doing volunteer work at DS#2's school. His class is presently studying pioneers (Grade 3) and they decided to make a scrap quilt. I sew badly at best, but I've always wanted to learn how to make a quilt. So, with DS#2's teacher's guidance and a lot of help from the kids, we're in the midst of making a crazy quilt. The kids all brought in old jeans or corduroy pants. They then traced the pattern pieces onto their old pants, cut them up and have since been sewing them back together. It's been a fun projects - we've had the kids doing much of the sewing on a sewing machine whose speed we can turn down so that we don't have a bloody finger quilt! I'll post a photo when we get it finished - hopefully a few more days this week and we'll have it under control.

In between all the quilting, we've had a nasty flu-like bug floating around the house - DS#2 fell with it first over a week ago, then DS#1 got it. After a 5 day reprieve, DH got it and now I'm displaying distinct symptoms of it too. Yick. I'm hoping I won't get it too bad, but judging by how nauseous I'm feeling right now, things don't look too promising. Oh well.

I have been stitching these last 3 weeks, though! Here are some pictures.

First up is a progress picture of Bouquet for Cheryl that I started a few months ago. It got put aside for some of the model work I've been doing, but it's now getting so close to being finished that I can smell it.


Next is a picture of the CreativFestival 20th anniversary sampler that I'm working on as a SAL with a friend of mine. The block on the left is meant to represent scrapbooking (we'll add some ribbon and buttons later to finish the look). The middle block is intended to represent a crazy quilt and has some pretty surface embroidery stitches on to. The right block is intended to represent a 9 patch quilt. That block is slowly driving me crazy as it has a ton of confetti in it, but thankfully it's small and we'll soon move on to much more interesting things!


Last up is my February Christmas ornament - I'm a little behind on this one, but with a bit of luck I'll get it under control by the end of the week. It's a Blue Ribbon Designs freebie that I found on their website:



And in my spare (!?!) time, I've been working on this, or rather, these:



What are these strange, tube-like things, you ask? Maybe this will help:


Still confused? They're socks, meant for me, but being modeled by DS#2 as he's the only one I could get to put them on and there was no way I could take a decent picture of my own feet in them.

You see, I decided this year to challenge myself. I'm not much of a knitter. In fact, I'd say I'm a pretty pathetic knitter, but I've been drawn to pictures of knitted socks for months now. So, I decided to give it a go when I found some cheap sock wool at Michaels. Worst case scenario, I'd be out $10. Surprisingly enough I've managed to produce two socks. They even match in their patterning. They're even the same size. How's that for a miraculous foray into sock knitting!?

Of course, there is a down-side:


I think I may need help.

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Paroled....

After two months of going to physio 3 times a week, I have officially been paroled! It's given me back over 7 & 1/2 hours a week! Yipee! I still have to do work at home to continue strengthening various muscle groups and I still need to get myself walking normally (I'm almost there), but at least I don't have to drag myself over to the physio place anymore. Besides, I'm out of insurance money. :-)

I have to just finish a little bit of backstitch on the model to finish - I needed to have a last minute chat with the designer as I couldn't tell what colours some backstitch was supposed to be, otherwise it would have been done already. My fault though - I didn't realize I didn't know what to do until I was almost done the backstitch. If I'd been smarter, I would have discovered that sooner! Oh well, I have my answers now, so I just need to sit down for 5 minutes and polish it off!

'Tis a good day!

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A little finish, a little gratitude and a little start....

Life has been incredibly busy these last two weeks. I've hardly had time to sit at the computer, let alone compose a coherent blog post. Between the physio for my knee (which will end early next week - yay!) and volunteer commitments (I'm overdoing it in that area), my days are extraordinarily full!

But, I have been stitching when I can. Most of my energy is focused on my model. It is just about finished now - just some backstitch and a bit of some nasty DMC gold left and then it'll be dropped in the mail. Dani beat me by a long shot, but that's okay. She has the pressure of having to finish 2 models while I'm just tottering along with one.

I did finish my January ornament though!

The Decorator by Full Circle Designs
From the 2007 JCS ornament issue
Stitched on 28 ct. Cashel in Silvery Moon with DMC

I'm happy with the finished product, but I should have chosen a darker linen. The white shows up (better IRL than in the photo), but it's not as obvious as I'd like. I may end up backstitching around the snowman with a grey tone at some point, or I may not.....

Now, on to gratitude. I have been reminded recently of a quote I really like:

' Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it ' -- William Arthur Ward

I realized that I haven't followed this quote lately. So, to everyone who reads my little blog and to everyone who has commented on my little blog- THANK YOU. It's nice to know I'm not alone here. :-)

I also need to express special gratitude to two very special people, who I won't mention by name, but who should know who you are, as I've expressed my gratitude in person (to one person) and by e-mail to the other. I'm still grateful in this public place too and glad you're part of my life. I'm lucky and blessed to know you both.

As for the little start...... A friend and I are getting together once a week to work on a project together. I am really enjoying this time, even though it is limited. Here's what we're working on:


This is the 20th Anniversary commemorative sampler created by Jeanette Douglas for the CreativFestival. I have been an attendee for over 10 of the 20 years and do, in fact, have the 10th Anniversary sampler in my UFO pile (must retrieve and finish that!). My friend and I decided we'd work on this one together and so far, we're enjoying it immensely. I'll share a progress pic when I can.

Off to another volunteer commitment!

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Oh Dear.....

I'm not sure if this is good or bad..... Sadly, I'd say it's mostly accurate....

What Erica Means

You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily. You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind. A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

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The Art Show

This past week, DS#2's school held an art show at a local gallery. It featured art from all grades - JK through to Grade 5 (ages 4 to 11, approximately). Parents and teachers were also invited to submit pieces for display.

I had no idea of the level of talent of these kids and it was so exciting to see their work displayed in a professional setting! And I was pleasantly surprised at how much talent the teachers have at our school as well. Many of the parents who displayed work I was already aware of their tremendous talent, but what they submitted for display was above and beyond!

The school hosted an open house this past Thursday night and at a rough guess we think we had about 300 parents, students and teachers attend. It was a wonderful evening and I really enjoyed seeing kids drag their parents over to their art and point it out with such pride!

Without further ado, here are a few pictures of our little art show:

The title of our show was 'Buds to Blooms'. (note I've blurred out the name of our school - it isn't just my bad photography skills!)

These are some charcoal drawings done by some of our Grade 4 and 5 students.


This quilt was made by some teachers at the school for another teacher who wasn't well. The drawings in the window were done by a teacher.


This is another art piece put together by a Grade 3 class.


This is a shot out the front window. On the easel is a piece done by a Grade 2 student (top), one of my needlework pieces at the bottom. On the left is a watercolour done by a teacher. On the right is a picture painted by a Grade 4 student and laying on the floor is a Rememberance Day wreath made by a Grade 5 class.

Yes, after much encouragement, I submitted 3 of my needlework pieces for display. While my work isn't what most consider to be traditional art, people seemed to enjoy seeing my work.

Off to work on my latest model. Dani and I are racing (she and I are both working on different pieces for the same series). I think she'll beat me. :-)

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Which way did it go?

Meaning my blog..... I think it fell overboard once the holidays hit full force! I'm still here, really. We had a relatively busy holiday in between my physio appointments. Sometimes I feel like I live there - I'm there 3 times a week for 2 & 1/2 hours each time. I think I'm getting better - I can almost go down stairs like a normal person. It's hard to tell for sure how I'm doing because the kind of pain I'm having keeps changing both location and intensity. I saw my surgeon today and he seemed to think I was doing really well and with a bit of luck I should be able to be paroled from physio in another 3 - 4 weeks. Yay! Physio seems to kill my whole day somehow....

Anyhow - on to more pleasant topics! While taking some stitchy pictures, I discovered that my DH took some pictures of a recent snowfall we had and with the house all prettied up for Christmas too.... So, here's a picture of the front of the house and the view out my kitchen patio door (you can see my sons' treehouse in the backyard shot - they just built it this past summer!):
We've had a good amount of snow, but not nearly as much as some. Now it's warming up to the point where there's rain in the forecast tomorrow and it's supposed to go to about 9C (48F) next week. Usually our temps are around -12C (10F) with windchills in the -25C (-13F) range. I'll take a balmy (!) 9C anyday.

Look at that - I've fallen into the Canadian obsession - talking about the weather! :-)

Stitching! Stitching! Stitching!

I knew there was something I was supposed to talk about here! I took some pictures of my last 2 finishes of 2007. I made my first biscornu ever. I can't believe I was hesitating to make one of these darling little cushions. It was so easy and fast.

Biscornu de Noël by Aurelle (freebie)
Stitched on 32-count Silkweaver solo with GAST in cranberry

My last finish for 2007 was an ornament for Bryce's teacher. She loves blue, I had a mostly finished blue ornament, so, I finished it and attached it to the basket of goodies I gave her for Christmas (I'm showing it without the benefit of the basket!):

Sapphire Star from an old JCS ornie issue
Stitched on recommended fabric with recommended fibres

I made the cording and tassel myself as well. I kinda like how it turned out and Bryce's teacher seemed to like it too.

Next up I need to catch up on some SBQs *and* show off the SAL I'll be starting with a friend in the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned................ :-)

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It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..............

What a crazy time it's been since little B's birthday. (guess I should call him big B now...) Thanks to everyone for your kind comments and birthday wishes for my miracle. He's pretty amazing all around, but then I'm his mom, I'm *supposed* to think that! :-)

I've been very pre-occupied with physiotherapy for my knee. I'm pleased to note that I've tossed the cane to the curb this week. I can walk fairly normally, although I think a turtle could pass me without too much difficulty. I can even manage stairs quite well, as long as I only have to go *up* them. Down is not good. Down hurts. Did you know down requires bending? My knee doesn't really *do* bending just yet......

I did have an ornament-finishing frenzy in the last few weeks. Every year a bunch of friends all get together for a cookie exchange and afternoon social. We pig out on each other's treats, then take some home to pig out on in private. :-) For the last few years, I've been stitching an ornament to go with my cookies. This year I was determined to stitch different ornaments for each package of cookies and I actually managed it:


(I know it's very yellow, but it was the best picture of the half dozen or so that I took!)

From all accounts everyone liked their ornaments. I'm quite pleased that I managed to get as many done as I did. The whole surgery thing really messed up my planning for Christmas.

Our Christmas tree finally got decorated this week and I even managed to hang the garlands around doorways inside. It's looking very festive - I'll have to try and snap some pictures, especially since we have 3 Christmas trees this year. Of course, my photography skills being what they are, they'll likely look dreadful, but I'll give it a go anyway!

It looks like we'll have a slushy Christmas here this year - while we've had lots of snow (lots and lots of snow), it's also decided to warm up and rain a bit, leaving us with slush. Yick. Oh well, at least it's not mud (yet)! :-)

Time for bed! More baking to do tomorrow - so far I've made 4 batches of fudge (peppermint & cookies 'n creme), rolled oat shortbread, chocolate cherry chunk cookies, coconut cranberry bars, gingerbread cake and chocolate chip orange zucchini bread. Anyone else gaining weight as I type? I can't wait to give it all away so that I can't eat it all!

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Eight Years Ago.....

I got my own personal miracle:


This is the little boy they told us wouldn't survive the birth. The little boy they said *if* by some chance he did survive, he would have a litany of endless health issues - both mental and physical. The little boy who was 7 times more likely to die within the first year of life than every other baby. The little boy, who today, turns eight.


He's beaten all the odds. He's normal, healthy and clearly happy.

Happy Birthday little B. Every day with you is a gift, made more precious simply because you are here. I love you little one.

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Christmas Meme

Found this over at the Stitch Bitch and couldn't resist....

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both, either - whatever comes to hand first.
   
2. Real tree or artificial? Always real. It comes in, looks pretty, then leaves. What the heck do you do with a fake one the rest of the year???
   
3. When do you put up the tree? Well, it'll move into its place of honour any time around the end of November to the first week of December. It won't be decorated until after DS#2's birthday, December 9.
   
4. When do you take the tree down? I prefer to wait until Epiphany, but it usually gets taken down the first weekend after New Year's.
   
5. Do you like egg nog? Yum. Yes. With Rum.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Can't think of anything in particular, but always got great things..... *shrug*
   
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Nope.
   
8. Hardest person to buy for? DH. Always claims he doesn't need anything....
   
9. Easiest person to buy for? In-laws (all of them -BIL, SIL, MIL, FIL, nieces, nephews) - they make a list to pick and choose from!
   
10. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards? Mail, with newsletter. To far too many people.
    
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Could be the year I got a breadmaker (yeah!), but had to return it because we needed a VCR more. End result: DS' got a new VCR and I got.......nothing.
    
12. Favorite Christmas movie?All of them.
    
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? 'Bout February. It takes that long to recover from the mayhem of November and December shopping. too. many. people.
    
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Don't think so.....
    
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Anything that isn't nailed down?
    
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Either. My MIL and I trade lights every few years (she has clear and I have coloured).....
    
17. Favorite Christmas song? Only one?
    
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Both. Travel to my parents and in-laws, but some time at home too.
    
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? I have children. Of course I can.
    
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel, to make DH happy. (I'd prefer a dragon if I could find one.....)
    
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Yes. This year - 23rd at the in-laws, 24th at my parents', 25th at home.
    
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Too many idiots in the stores, the malls, the parking lots and too many store staff who clearly don't give a flying fig about helping you (even when you're on crutches, in pain and looking very helpless!).
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Anything the kids have made or ornies I've stitches or received as gifts.
    
24. Favorite thing for Christmas dinner? Anything NOT turkey.
    
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? To walk like a normal person. To burn/destroy/maim my crutches. To skate again. To ride a bike with my kids again (okay, not till next summer, judging by the amount of snow on the ground right now, but still....) To be able to walk the block and a half to DS#2's school. To not need crutches. To walk.

But outside of that, nothing much. :-) Time with DH and kids, natch.


I'm spending much of my available free time working towards my dearest wish for Christmas. I met with the physical terror..., erm, therapist yesterday. Today began the serious torture. Two and a half hours of it. But, I did get upgraded to using a cane! Yipee?!?

Off to visit with my friendly ice pack again.....

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Just call me stumpy.....

Well, here I am 4 days after the dude with the sharp pointy objects took aim at my knee. The surgery itself wasn't as bad as I feared - I was in and out of the OR in less than an hour. It took at least 2 doses of morphine to get me feeling comfortable in the recovery room, but after another few hours I was released to go home. I admit to being in a bit of a rush to go home since the hospital where I had my surgery is a good 40 minute drive from home, so I wanted to get home before all the drugs wore off.

I've been limping around with my crutches every since but I'm managing quite well. I have some physiotherapy to do 3 times a day to start re-strengthening the muscle that was cut in the surgery. If I take my pain meds about half and hour before doing the exercises I find I can manage quite well through them, though they still hurt.

Today the pain is much worse than the previous few. I doubt I'll manage much more time at the computer today, but thought I'd at least get one post in.

Before I went to hospital I was determined to finish off a little project that I had started over the summer - tooth fairy pillows for 2 of my nephews and DS#2. They got dropped in the mail the day before surgery and my nephews are presently enjoying them:

Toothasaurus Rex & Tooth Fairy Landing Pad Copyright © Dragon Dreams

Stitched on mystery linens with DMC and Kreinik

I modified one Toothasaurus to have red polka dots, by request of my nephew. It took me quite a while to get him looking dotted instead of like he had chicken pox. When I sewed them up I also made a pocket on the back on the pillow so the tooth fairy can leave money or notes if necessary (sometimes the tooth fairy just runs out of cash!).

Off to visit the ice pack.....

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I'm sure those pictures are around here somewhere....

I think the camera ate them. Really. All those pretty pictures of class projects and stash from the festival. They've gone AWOL. Notice I'm scowling at the camera. I don't think it's helping.

However, said camera *did* let me take new pictures of some ornaments I've stitched. Wanna see? Okay. Here.

Tipsy Tree © Charland Designs, Inc.

From the 2007 JCS Ornament Issue

Stitched on 32-count belfast linen with GAST and DMC

And look, there's *two*:

Joy © Lizzie*Kate, Inc.

From the 2007 JCS Ornament Issue

Stitched on 32 count fabric of some kind with DMC

Either I'll beat the camera with a big stick or beg it to give me back the other pictures. But at least I've given you something to look at in the meantime.

In other, less stitchy news, I finally saw the surgeon about my knee that has been troubling me since this past June. He looked, he saw and he decided. He's going to point some sharp, pointy objects at my knee. This. coming. Tuesday. Mama.

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Creativ Festival - Days 3, 4 & 5

(Note: After a lengthy discussion with digital camera, computer and blogger, we've agreed to disagree on the uploading of photos today. Blogger wins, I lose.)

More in the continuing saga of the this year's Creativ Festival.....

Day 3 had me downtown early as a friend had an early class while I didn't. The show floor didn't open until 10AM, so I sat in the lounge and beaded the model (which, incidentally is now finished and on its way back to the magazine! It would have gone last week, save for some back-stitch issues I had to work out with the designer....). When the floor opened I had my first tour around and naturally, picked up some stash....

First I grabbed Jeanette Douglas' special 20th anniversary sampler that she designed for the festival along with the special beaded trim kit that goes with it. It is so pretty IRL. Funnily enough I also have the 10th anniversary sampler in my WIP pile (guess how many years that has sat there???), so naturally I had to have the 20th as well. The 10th anniversary piece was designed by Charland Garvin from Charland Designs.

Next up in my stash acquisition was Dragon Dreams' Santa's Dragon. I was so intent upon picking up this chart that I actually didn't notice the stitched model in the booth until I was paying for my stash. I just needed the chart. Immediately. Clearly, I'm ill.

I did a round of 'business' at the various needlework booths - curiously enough for a good portion of the needlework-related booths I tend to work for the designers as a model stitcher or I was dropping in on my co-workers at A Needle Pulling Thread. I also managed to wrangle myself some more model stitching possibilities for a designer I have admired for years, so hopefully that will pan out at some point.

Business completed, it was time for lunch, another meander on the floor to the areas I don't normally go (I don't knit, crochet, scrapbook or want to buy a chamois) and then it was time for class.

Day 3 - Class: Teeny, Tiny Treasure Box

Instructor: Jennifer Aikman-Smith of Dragon Dreams

Jennifer brought forth another great creation from her seemingly endless store of cool ideas. We stitched a teeny, tiny little treasure chest on perforated paper. It worked up very quickly and I almost had it stitched by the end of class. Once home, I finished the stitching in less than half an hour and then folded and assembled the treasure chest. To complete our little chest Jennifer also gave us (what else) treasure! Some pretty beads (one that even looks like a little dragon egg) that have left me looking at my bead stash in a whole new way.....

Next.....

Day 3 - Class: Sleeping Dragon Ornament

Instructor: Jennifer Aikman-Smith of Dragon Dreams

This piece has to win the cute, cute, cute prize. Jennifer showed us the most adorable little dragon, asleep and clutching his teddy bear. Another fast-to-stitch piece, but that wasn't where the creativity really began. Seeing that our little dragon is sleeping, clearly he needs a bed, right? Jennifer provided us with some felt to build a pillow and another larger piece of felt to make a bed. Then we had some fantastic supplies that we could use to decorate the bed. Sparkly, pretty things. Oh, the possibilities! I got a little overwhelmed with the thought of just what I would do (and it's a tiny thing!), but then decided I needed to meet my dragon before I could make his bed, so I stitched and spent time thinking about how I was going to make the bed. I think I've figured it out, but you'll have to wait to see the finished product!

At the end of the day, I had the great fortune to have been invited for a sleepover at a very good friend's hotel. You would think I was a little kid again - I was *SO* excited. After dragging all my assorted cr*p to the hotel room we went to a little seafood place near the hotel for dinner. We had the most amazing seafood shish-kabobs - swordfish (grilled), scallops, shrimp - oh! Talk about yum-o. I ate till I was ready to burst. We went back to the hotel and got into our jammies and stitched and chatted and caught up and just had the most wonderful time. It was just perfect and a wonderful way to spend time at the festival.

The next morning, however, proved to anyone and all that a) I should never attempt to drive without caffeine and b) that my friend has incredible patience and fortitude. Why, you ask? Well, you see, I don't drive much in Toronto. It is generally something that takes all my wits to manage. Can you see where this is going?

We decided to leave the hotel early and grab some breakfast at the convention centre (the hotel was going to charge an arm and a leg for the simplest of food!)...... I was clearly not awake as I completely neglected to notice what road we were on as we left the hotel parking lot. I was sure that we were on one particular street. Being so mind-numbingly sure of myself (note the lack of caffeine here!), I turned left, then left again, being totally sure I was heading south. Sadly, my brain was *not* functional - I was going North. I drove by some very obvious street signs that (if my brain had been working) would have clued me into the fact that I was, in fact, going in the complete opposite direction that I wanted to be going in. But I was clearly unable to grasp this fact and then spent the next half-hour or so meandering my way through an enormous portion of Toronto. Thankfully my friend didn't shoot me, yell, scream or otherwise become (not undeservadly) hysterical. She finally figured out where the he** we were (and she's not local to Toronto and I am!) and got us to a point where I could manage to get us to the convention centre. I'm an idiot.

I am eternally grateful that my friend didn't shoot me and drop my lifeless form on an unnamed corner next to a homeless person. I certainly deserved it. I think she's still even talking to me. I am an underserving wretch. :-)

After an extraordinarly rushed breakfast (remember, we left early, I got us lost, hence making us very nearly late), we each headed to our respective classes......

Day 4 - Class: Lacis Snowflake

Instructor: Kathryn Drummond of Gingerbread Girl

This class looked quite intriguing from the show brochure and I was sorry that there was only me and one other person in the class. Nonetheless, Kathryn persisted and took us through what I can only describe as a hardanger inspired piece. We satin-stitched a 66x66 box, then did a pulled 4sided stitch on the outside of the box. Next we moved onto cutting every 2 threads inside the box. I didn't manage quite all this in class, but I tried hard.... After all the cutting is done and the threads removed then a series of wrapped bars and dove's eyes create a really pretty snowflake. I do want to get back to this piece as it was simple and fast. I just need to remind myself that I do know how to do dove's eyes.

Once this class was over I had a mad dash onto the show floor - I had forgotten the supplies I needed for my next class!!!!!!!!!!! Doh!

Day 4 - Class: Monster Mix-up

Instructor: Jennifer Aikman-Smith of Dragon Dreams

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect with this class, but knowing Jennifer, I knew it would be entertaining, if nothing else. We were presented with a bunch of different charts all together - 4 different heads, 3 different bodies and 4 different legs/feet. All we had to do was select a head, body and legs/feet. I worked my way through the head in class, but haven't yet had time to get to the rest of my friend. It was interesting to peek at what everyone was choosing - they were all different and done in different colours as well! We were supposed to bring two different colours of DMC from the same colour family - one light and one dark. I will be using DMC 160 and 161 but the rest of my creation will be secret until it's finished.

I found this to be such an exciting class - there were so many possibilities! I've already got colours picked out in my head for another monster...... But I guess I'd better finish the first one before I start #2!

Saturday night was the banquet which is always interesting. Food was quite good all things considered and was enjoyable. After dinner they herded us (somewhat like errant sheep) back onto the show floor (which was closed by this time) to one of the stages set up on the show floor. We were treated to a knitwear fashion show as it is Vogue Knitting's 25th anniversary. They showed off some very neat and interesting knitwear pieces.

The best part though was at the end when a select group of designers at the festival showed off a number of one-of-a-kind specialty items that they created for the show. They were raffled off at the end of the night. Yet again, I came home empty handed (naturally) but (and this is a big but) my good friend WON! A gorgeous beaded belt/necklace/thing full of swarovski crystals made by William Hodge. It's amazing to look at - it's so pretty! I was so excited for her. I'm not sure the shock has worn off yet..... :-)

Finally we arrive at:

Day 5 - Class: Reflections
Instructor: Anna-Marie Winter

I'm sure by this point Anna-Marie was thinking I'm a stalker as I was in all but one of her classes. What can I say? More silk! More silk!

This piece is done in some beautiful sage-y greens - more silk mori and silk serica. It's a gorgeous piece and if I get it finished, it will look great in my dining room.

It was a full-day class but everyone seemed to have run out of stitching steam (me included) by about 3 PM. Everyone pretty much packed up and left. I toured the floor a bit and then left a little before 5 PM exhausted, happy and glad to go home.

Overall it was a great 5 days. There were some things that I wished had been different and some things that were just fine. I had a great time catching up with old friends and spending time doing what I love most - stitching.

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