Pre-Beach Posting !

We're finishing up the packing and heading out tomorrow morning-early. I've chosen this for my beach stitching since it's relaxing and simple and small. I can't believe I had to run to JoAnn's and get a few floss colors I was missing:

This is the last in the series of four I have to do, and I just love these! I did the first one waaaaay back in 1995! I had to put Goblin away for a bit--had a hard time starting that first row of specialty stitching. I don't know if it's my eyes, or my counting skills, lol, or perhaps a bit of both. I'll try to get that done soon, but I just can't mess with it now. Maybe not later either-just a warning! I don't know why my summer has seemed so hectic thus far. I feel a bit out of control, like nothing is as organized as I need it to be. Maybe summer part 2 will be a little more laid back with more time for stitching and other fun things. We'll see!

I just can't wait to get to the beach. The ocean makes me feel revitalized, energized, and relaxed all at the same time. Walking on the boardwalk with the warm wind blowing around me as we just walk and decide what to do next...nothing beats it. Not having to worry with what time it is, doctor appointments, grocery shopping, etc. ( generic web photo below!)

We've always wanted to move to the shore someday. I spoke to a woman in a Fenwick restaurant one time. She worked as a court transcriptionist and waitressed part time as well. She had children too. I told her how people always tell me, "Oh, you'd get so used to the beach, you wouldn't enjoy it anymore than where you live right now." She said to me, "that's bull---it's every bit as fun as you think it would be!" With that, she told me how fabulous the schools were and how much she loved it there. Every single year, we entertain that fantasy of moving to the beach. It really gives me the incentive to work hard and continue to pay off our debt and not incur any more. You never know what dreams you can make come true for yourself. I'd have to move my mom and sister with me of course! I just love looking at all the homes and thinking "Well, they did it--so can we!".

I've neglected the old google reader for quite some time, and I need to post to all your beautiful blogs. I also need to email some tin album instructions to someone-I have not forgotten! When I get back I can't wait to see what you all have been up to! Take care and enjoy your week. I'll be back soon with some stash updates I'm sure and hopefully a suntan!

Goblin Start, Stash, and Funny Convo

Funny conversation regarding the virtues of Thread Heaven:

Me: (opening a new container) Yaaayyyy!
DH: What's so exciting?
Me: Sparkles!
DH: What *is* that stuff on top?
Me: It's FUN, whaddya think?
DH: Yeah, but why is it there?
Me: You obviously don't get it.

The people who make this stuff get it though, because they are the ones that add the sparklies!

Yes, the sparkles have no purpose other than to amuse me. And they do. That's how easily I'm amused. I know, I'm a freak. Have you used this stuff? I love it. I don't usually use it with DMC, but for silks and overdyeds, it's a necessity for me.

Here's my start. Eleven days since my last blog entry and I realize I should have had this done already, lol. However, I just haven't had the dedicated stitching time I want. Just like the last design, this fabby is kind of yellow, but doesn't want to show up that way in a pic:

Just a few stash items. My friend Tracy gave me SamSarah's Jumping Jacks. Love those pumpkins! And I had to have the witchy design of course. Then I scored another BBD Loose Feather design off eBay. This is such a great design. I'm happy I won it!

Well, nothing else exciting happening. I'm gearing up for our annual vacation - July 11 - to Ocean City, MD, and we are so stoked! I need to start thinking about what stitching to take. I will either take the Prairie Schooler Garden Fairy (the only one I have left to stitch, out of 4) or another little Shepherd's Bush design for mom's birthday. We'll see! **ETA** Yes Judy, I do know about all those shops and also Sea Needles in Bethany Beach. Oh how I love to shop for cross stitch, but at the beach it's even sweeter!

Thx for all the great comments on my last post about the finish and the scrapbook tin. I had someone ask me to email instructions on how to complete the tin and I'll be happy to do that! Take care and until next time,

Stitchy Finish, Scrapbooking Finish, etc!

WHEW! The past couple weeks have been a whirlwind. Ever feel like you're just running in place, going nowhere fast, but there's so much happening around you? That's the past couple weeks for me. Getting my son through the end of school and wondering how I now have a 13 year old boy. Boggles the mind. That was last week, then we had the party, then he had dentist appointment, then he had a small surgical procedure on his face (I know!!). Had to have a small growth removed from his face and will have some follow up laser procedures. OY VEY. I'm tired.

I told you I finished With my Needle, and indeed I have. Here it is. These are outdoor pics so I'm sorry 'bout the shadows !

BlackBird Designs With My Needle

28 ct. Antique Cotton Linen
GAST Fibers

Oh, I also wanted to post my recent gift to my sister. She also has a June birthday and I wanted to give her something special, so I made her an altered tin album of some pics of us as kids and a couple recent ones too. She cried, which as you all know means.......SCORE!!!! :P She's the beautiful blonde!


Don't mind the little paws in the upper right hand corner. :p

I really love scrapbooking too. This little album uses a digital template from Shabby Miss Jen, which, if you are into digi scrapping at all, is a way awesome site. I just downloaded some Halloweenie type kits. FUN!

Now, what to stitch next? I thought maybe this. It's cute, right? Shepherd's Bush The Goblins. I can't resist a goblin! :

And no one need remind me I still have Halloween Fairy to finish up. Maybe I'll take this opportunity to work on her too. She's crying out to be finished before Halloween this year, after the fiber dye lot disaster of last year, lol. My goodness.

A very sweet lady, Joanne, was visiting my blog and saw I wanted Firefly Fairies:

So what did she do? She sent her copy to me! Joanne, you are an awesome lady and I can't wait to see your Cricket Boo Sheep progress. I think Joanne needs a blog too, in order to show it off. I don't believe she has one, but if you do Joanne, please let me know!! You are too sweet.

Today I scored my copy of Adam Lambert's Rolling Stone cover. I have to wait until all is quiet to read it. I'm so excited he's going to have an album out later this fall. Seriously, Adam fans, how cool is this cover?

And with that, I think I'll sign off before I blog your ear off (or your eyes out?). Have a great night and I'm looking SO forward to getting back to reading posts and see all the gorgeous things you're working on. Thanks for the b-day wishes for my boy. So sweet of you all! You guys really make my day.

Drive by post!

I'm busy as a bee here. Seems time just flies by and I can't get a handle on it lately. I'm basically finished with my WIP - BBD With My Needle - and will post a photo for you tomorrow. My family is going to be visiting today to wish my son a happy b-day and we're trying to clean things up this morning. Should be nice weather for sitting out on the deck.

Have a wonderful Saturday and I'll be back soon with photos! Boy do I have alot of blogging to catch up on, lol. :P

Stitchin' it Old Skool and BBD Update

Prairie School, that is! This is one of the first pieces I ever did for myself, waaaaaaaaaay back in the 80's (gasp!). It's still one of my favorites. It's the season houses from Prairie Schooler. I remember being so proud that I stitched it all on one piece of fabric and was able to keep all the spaces even between the houses, lol.

I'm *this* close to being done with BBD With My Needle. Only a few more letters to do and I'll have a finish. I have enjoyed this one, albeit quite leisurely! I just haven't been in a "stitch it fast" kind of mood. But I'm steady. Never give up, right? I'm sure you guys are sick of seeing this design :p I can promise you I'll be done this week.



Don't know what I'll pick next, but it'll either be a patriotic or a Halloween design. Of that I'm sure. I'm also itching to do a sewing project or a quilt. I'm really going to try to fit that in this summer.

So many of you commented on my header--thank you all! I just really enjoy working with Photoshop and pin up girls and other fun images. Pinup art is just one of those things I'm addicted to. I just love the appearance of the women in this type art. Not skinny, not perfect, but somehow just right. They all seem pretty happy, carefree and exude confidence. But all I can say is MAN, I wish I looked like that in a bathing suit!

BlackBird Designs and Mini Stash Purchase

Let's get this straight. What happened last Wednesday on A.I.--well, let's just say is is now officially referred to as the "event of which we do not speak", understood? :P I've done all I can to blot it from my mind and move on. No, seriously-it DID affect me that much. I mean it. Let's not talk about it again. Ever! (just kidding--well, kind of)

Now for stitching! Here's a few pics of my progress on With My Needle. I'm getting there....



My life seems so busy lately. You'd think that since I don't have to work over the summer, I'd be freewheeling and footloose. What the heck is going on? I've let emails go, I haven't stitched as much as I should, haven't been to all the beautiful blogs.....gotta get myself back on track. Me thinks too much laundry and housework is to blame, so to help with that, I took a trip to Everything Cross Stitch and browsed around. Well, that usually winds up with me purchasing at least a little something. So I picked up these:

I adore bees, so I had to have that LHN. I've not gone over the whole magazine yet, but nothing is truly jumping out at me. I'll be real interested to see the Christmas issue (like I'm going to stick to my plan of creating all those ornies, right?). Regardless, I just find myself having to buy that issue when it comes out. I love looking at it and dreaming about all the things I could be making. I hope everyone has a wonderfully stitchy week. We're looking at rain here. Here's to hoping the sunshine makes a quick return!

Nice Awards and Adam Love!

I have received the sweetest awards from Margie, and Mel.

It means: "This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. "

What a nice thought! I certainly have made some cyber friends I wouldn't have otherwise had without my little blog. Thanks girls!! You rock!

I received this one from Jane , who is as lovely as her needlework.

Thanks Ladies, you have literally made my week with such wonderful thoughts. I have so many more blogs I neeed to add to my reader and blog roll lists--I love the fact that there are so many needleworkers sharing their work. And I love even more that so many others are encouraging of them! Great community, stitchers are. Just great!

Now, as you know, tomorrow is the final for Idol. That means that Adam needs votes and I'll be staying up late to do so, lol. Here's some eye (and ear) candy, since I've been lax on stitching this week due to other creative endeavors! Be back with some stitching very soon. What a beautiful song this is....oh, and be sure to download your copy from iTunes. I mean, seriously, how can you be without this??!

Moseyin' along ...

Well, slowly I mosey along with my pretty BBD. I really do love the colors in this, but I can't quite pick up the yellow of the fabric to show you. It really is just like "buttah"!

Pretty lazy daisy stitches-fun to do.

My mother would hate it if I posted her pic here, lol, so I won't. But I do want to say how much I love and depend on my mother. She means the world to me and I'd be lost without her. She is every single thing that a mother should be--every single thing. There really isn't a word to describe just how much I love her. Thanks mom-love you!

I hope you all have a fabulous Mother's Day and enjoy your families. I'm going to my sis's house for a gourmet brunch served up by her hubby, who is a magnificent cook.

Till next time,

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