Non-Stitchy Halloween Addition & Idol Chatter

Just a real quick drive by post. I scored this for about 70% off at a recent trip to Cracker Barrel. It's never too early (or late) to add to your Halloween stash. This owl is pretty big! It'll make a nice addition to my holiday decorating.

I'll be back very soon with stitchy updates. I *really* need to catch up on blogs tonight. Maybe during the Idol commercials? :)

Now, please vote for this talented, uh--and GORGEOUS, man. Last week I only voted once due to feeling overconfident and he wound up in the bottom three! YIKES! Well, at this point, someone has to be in the bottom, even if they all rock. But this guy--he doesn't just rock. He rocks my face off. In all fairness, Danny was FABU as well last week, dontcha think? I'll be voting for him too, but a few extra calls will go in for my man Adam.

Oh my. Whew. Geez. Can't wait to see him tonight. ;p

BBD With My Needle Update and SAL

Here's a bit of slow progress on my BlackBird Designs, With My Needle. I've been working this with another project so it's going slow but sure. You can't tell too much, but it's being stitched on a very sweet yellow fabby called "Antique Cotton" by R&R. I love it.

And I love working with the overdyed flosses here too, but you know how when you do it like you're *supposed* to (by crossing each stitch as you go) and you go back the other way---the stitches don't quite look like the first row you did? AAAAAAGGGH, my stitching o.c.d. kicks in and I have to force myself to just do it and move on.

Here's my contribution to this months Totally Useless SAL. Mine is an ugly Vlasic pickle jar, so I never show the lid! Hahahaha.

And do you know, I haven't done an ornie for my challenge group this month....either. Lazy? Procrastinator? Sure. I just have to live with it. You won't catch me signing up for round robins or exchanges or anything else where I have to do something on a certain date. Ya'll would be sorely dissapointed if I did. :p

If you're looking for an awesome fabby giveaway, please head over to see Daffycat! They're gorgeous!

The Winner Is..............

The winner of the Shepherd's Bush Fright draw is Juls !! Congrats Juls, and thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who signed up for the draw! I've made some new blog friends.

I included a screenshot of the random.org site in case anyone wanted to see. You know, I don't even know how to do a screenshot, lol. I had to download some software to do it!! Is there a secret to it or what? Goodness. I hope this is clickable so you guys can see it.


This was fun. I think I'll do another giveaway sometime in the near future. Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

BlackBird Designs With My Needle-Idol Chatter

OK, it's not a tease. It's a real life start! Lookie, I have proof:

See? I told ya!

Are you enjoying the less than stellar lighting on these photos? Thank Mother Nature. One minute is cloudy and rain, and the very next second is sunny! BLAH! I think you can get at least the general idea that I have indeed started something. If you haven't already, please leave me a comment in the below post if you would like to be entered in the giveaway for Shepherd's Bush Fright. I'll be back on Friday to announce the winner.

And who do you think is going home on American Idol tonight?? Well, I think either Lil--why couldn't she replicate that FAB Mary J. Blige thing from early this season--or Matt G. or Noop. But it WILL NOT be this man.

OMG, be still my heart. Yeah, I lust after him. Does that make me a cougar? I don't care if he is gay or not either. A delusional cougar? :p

I tried. Oh yeah, and a give-a-way!

I tried. You know, I really did. Despite the past couple weeks of *trying*, I simply could not get into my latest project, Fright, by Shepherd's Bush (see below post or my sidebar for pic). Does anyone want this kit? Just leave a comment saying you'd like to enter the give-a-way, and I'll draw a name on Friday, April 24th. My inability to get this thing going can be your gain! I did do the tiny pumpkin and the star at the top of the design, but they can be easily removed to get your own stitches in there. Comes with fabby, design, silks, and button.

You know what's sad? It's such a TINY sweet design that I should have had it done by now, and it is SO darn cute. It is a "spot" sampler, and alas, I guess I'm not a spot sampler kind 'o gal. :p I need to rifle through my stash (pure torture, right?) and come up with something else now. I also have a surprise project in the works, which I'll show a sneak peek of sometime in the future.

I got this new design by La-D-Da.

I love Lori Markovic's designs and just seem to gravitate towards them. But then again, I have tons of Cricket to be done, and then there's all the Prairie Schooler, and BlackBird Designs. Oh, and more Shepherd's Bush! And I really *should* work on an ornie this month. Ever feel like you have too many designs? OK, just forget I said it. It's not true. I never said that! I also would like to finish my series of PS Prairie Fairies. I only have one left to do--this one:

The whole series is just so cute. If you are a PS fan, and don't have them, check 'em out on eBay. Affordable, and just adorable.

I think I'm just having a really *off* month. My son has had Spring Break this week and I'm all discombobulated. He has a doc appointment Monday morning to see how the bone is healing and hopefully he'll be out of his cast soon. What a pain in the a$$ for all of us, but especially him. I just feel like I cannot get in my "groove" with stitching and I'm bummed out about it. The old noggin feels all cluttered up! I'm going to endeavor to stitch my butt off this week. I also want to commit to walking one mile each day starting tomorrow. I'll be more likely to WALK my butt off than STITCH it off. Unless I'm stitching really, really fast......

Fright Start and Other Stuff

First, I want to thank all of you for leaving such great advice about reading blogs. I try to keep my posting to about once a week or so. I did go to the Google Reader. I had to LOL when I googled "google reader" and all my followed blogs showed up! Ahhh, the wonders of the internets, eh? How DO they do this stuff?

Sometimes, I'm real good about leaving lots of comments, and sometimes, I might have to play catch up. I'm just supremely thankful that everyone I've met in stitching blogger land (it's a real place you know) is so FABU. Also, that response about the Pinhead Stitch was awesome. Boy, a Shepherd's Bush stitcher can sure use that information. You should check it out. I'm going to attempt it for this stitch.

Well, just a real quick little post to show that I am indeed starting Fright, by Shepherd's Bush. I'm also working on another project that I can't show just yet. I'm nearly done, so we'll see. This week I'll try to work between the two and see where that gets me. Have a great Easter and enjoy time with your families! Time to go dye eggs here........

Red Snowman Finish!

He's finally done. Boy I tell you, I sure am NOT the fastest stitcher, but to be fair, I was trying to work and stitch (rarely at the same time) over the past 7 months. Now I have a break for 5 or so months and can concentrate on this crazy obsessive passion I have. I am also involved in some other creative endeavors--totally exciting--but I'm not going to share details right now. I know, don't you hate that?! I promise to keep you posted though. On to my Red Snowman finish!

Shepherd's Bush Red Snowman
Cranberry Bog Fabric 32 ct. (in kit)
Fibers: Au ver a Soi and Thread Gatherer Silks

I really am pleased with him. He's a nice addition to my finishes because I didn't have any wintry designs, and now I have two! Yayyyy! Don't know what I might put on the QSnaps next, but I'm thinking it might be Fright by Shepherd's Bush.

I can only go so long without a Halloweeny stitch. I was so busy getting Snowman done I didn't even do an ornament for March for my challenge. BLAH! Truth be told, I might not get one done for April either, lol. For all you "followers", WOW-I can't get over how many people are even remotely interested in what I'm doing or stitching. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. It makes me smile. I have tried to return the favor by following all your blogs too, and I hope I haven't missed any. Please let me know if have!

How do you all keep up with all the blogs? I have so many I love now, and sure to come across lots more. Do you devote time every day to blogging, or once each week? Do tell! I'll be back soon with a new start as soon as I dig through everything and decide! Until then,

Snowman Update and SAL

I've got a few things to cover today. Seems like when I am working, I only get around to updating my blog about once a week. That's good for me right now I think. I'll have a several month break coming up starting next week and I plan to get alot more stitching in! For now, here's my Red Snowman progress. He's nearly done. I gotta take this opportunity to tell you how much I hate those little stitches in the middle of nowhere-like the flower on his hat. Anchoring those are my least favorite thing to do EVER, lol.

I had a couple people mention the fabric bleeding onto the thread. I use Thread Heaven to coat the silk floss prior to stitching and have not had that problem at all. But I did stupidly try to steam iron it (prior to stitching) and have a nice red stain on my ironing board! Yeah, I know. :p

Now, here's my first submission for the Totally Useless SAL. Yep, it's an ort jar. Not alot in there because I'm working on the snowman, which is a kit and I'm pretty careful with waste.

I was generously given two awards! One is from Melissa over at Words and Blooms and the second one is from Cindy at LoneStar Stitcher.

Both these ladies have great blogs--go visit and leave some love. Oh, and check out Cindy's TO DIE FOR craft room. It's straight out of a Pottery Barn catalog I swear!

I'll have to think of some ladies to pass this on to, but honestly, every stitcher I interact with would be deserving! There are some seriously FABU blogs out there. I've been dealing with colds and broken bones (see previous post) and I'm worn out! But I'm hoping next time I post, it will be with a finish! Until then,

The reason I've not stitched alot this week....

Oh, yes he did. Broke his ankle in two places. Gotta love skateboarding.

This happened Wednesday afternoon. I heard the scream and thought "Nah, that's not my kid." Uh YEAH, it was! Poor boy. Somehow, we have to figure out how he's going to play his double bass in a concert this week. Should be fun.

Only yesterday did I manage to do a bit of stitching. Or was it the day before? The past few days have been a complete blur. Here's some pitiful progress on my poor snowman. I think the little flowers are so pretty.

I'm off today to try and get him out of the house to maybe go to lunch and let his Granny fawn all over him. ;) Oh, he'll hate that, won't he? Tonight, I'd like to get more stitching done. We'll see! Have a great stitchy week everyone, and I promise to get caught up on all your beautiful blogs very soon.....

Snowman and Headache Fairy updates

I never thought I'd see the day. My dear hubby drove me up to In Stitches today, a great needlework shop, and I thought I spied a familiar dye lot of Dandelion Stem. I was almost afraid to examine it more closely. See, I have had this fairy in progress since, oh, about months and months ago! So I dared to buy it, and guess what? IT MATCHES! Now I can finish this baby up. I took her off my WIP list because I thought I might actually have to toss it out. It's a perfect match. This ordeal really turned me off to kits for the most part.

Whew. This has saved me some gray hair-not much, but some. I had ripped out some stitches to provide Sharon Crescent with a sample. I never got a response from her and now have to stitch back what I removed, but hey, at least I can now complete her, right? All the other skeins I tried were a yellow dirty green. But this is a nice Spring time shade of green.

I've been SO darn sick this week, I hardly got any stitching in, but I did get some of the pudgy dude's belly done. It'll look so prety once the roses and other specialty stitch is completed on him.

I need to get caught up on my blogging by visiting all my buddies. Thanks to everyone who is a "follower". Every once in a while I go to visit someone and am mortified I'm not "following"! I fix it when I notice that. It's such a nice feeling to have friends out there in cyber land. Take care and happy stitching this weekend! Until next time,

Shepherd's Bush Start

I knew as soon as I saw Miss Jane's preview of the new SB Purple Snowman, that I had to start my Red Snowman. She also showed her own Green Snowman, stitched to perfection, which sealed the deal. So I started in earnest!

I love him already.

I'm glad I started on him. But, note to self: DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT, even entertain the idea that you might be able to steam out a wrinkle on that Cranberry Bog fabby and not wind up with red stain on your ironing board!! Been there, done that. :p

Ever watch Gordon Ramsey in Hell's Kitchen? Honestly, I love that man. Well my husband thinks I need to start a stitching reality show (since I'm so particular about my stitching) called "Hell's Craft Room". It would go something like this--me bullying a bunch of stitching ladies around (and if you watch Gordon, you'll know what I mean) and the conversation snippets would be much like..............

"You call THAT a french knot??!"

"Those backstitches should have been ready 10 minutes ago!!!!"

"What do you mean you don't know the difference between Au Ver A Soi and Weeks Dye Works??!!"

"Put that stitching down and GET OUT!!!!"

He had me LOL with all the stuff he was coming up with. I just previewed the mild. Gordon can cut you to the quick with his words, but I would never do that to a fellow stitcher. Just don't come 'round me with shoddy stitching and we never have to find out, do we? Heeee.

I am in heaven with this SNOW!

This snow is glorious! You have to understand my excitement here--we've not had this much snow in THIRTEEN years! Yep, since 1996. I was pregnant last time it snowed like this, lol. And now, he's nearly a teenager. I really would love to move somewhere where it was like this for a couple months of the year. It's not gotten above 25 degrees or so today, and yet, it's going to be SIXTY FIVE this weekend! Ahhhh, Virginia in winter. You never know if you need flip flops or snow boots.........

Now, I need to find something to stitch. Have a great night!