Happy Tuesday!

No photos to post. I had great intentions of taking TONS of pictures at my EGA "over nighter" stitching event this past Friday. I put my battery on the charger Thursday evening. Took my camera out Friday night at the "over nighter". Thought if felt a little light. Yup. Battery at home on the charger. Camera 40 miles away on dead. Soooooo.... you will just have to believe me when I tell you we had a BLAST! I believe it would amaze most "mortals" that a dozen grown women could have so much fun playing with fibers.....tons of gabbing & laughing happened at the Ronald McD House!
We had great fun. Dear Carolyn had never ever had Chinese food, so we all brought or made our favorite Chinese dish. There was lots of stir fry, egg rolls, sesame Chicken, rangoons, rice, hot & sour soup (my fav!). We ate and stitched and ate and stitched. Carolyn tried to convince us all that she has never had Italian food.... Deb ( Lavender Rose Ramblings ) came and spent the evening with us. Everyone had a great laugh when they discovered I found her on-line! I think it was a good discovery!
The "over nighter" ended at midnight (we can't stay awake and see our fibers after that!). It was great fun. Looking forward to the next one!
Nothing new in my life. I have been working on the EMS baby sampler. Will get a picture and update my progress this weekend. I must finish this soon, for my own sanity. So many things I am dying to stitch and start & don't dare. I need to find more hours in the day. I'm thankful for a long upcoming holiday weekend with no plans! I love love love being at home!! My thoughts will be with my family in Dodge City this weekend. I will miss the Family Reunion (my mom's side) but look forward to viewing the pictures and hearing all the news.
I'm off to stitch and watch the next installment of BB8, after I check out Deb's blog, she is tempting me~~~~ throw me a rope~~~~~~
Stay safe!
Happy Stitching!
xoxo
Me!

Tassels anyone?

I've been making tassels!

I'm going to teach a tassel class!

Come one, come all.....

When: Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007

Time: 12:00 noon- 4:00pm

Where: Golden Needle, Port Charlotte FL

Contact: Me at miokka@yahoo.com

(be sure to put "Tassel Class" in the subject line or I might miss it!) or Cathy at Golden Needle

cathy@goldeneedle.com or call or go to the shop!

Cost: Includes fiber, needles, beads, beading thread, and other assorted must haves and will be between $20 - $25 and we might have tea!

You'll want bunches, one for each pair of scissors, one for each ceiling fan chain, one for each drawer pull, a couple for your Christmas tree, gifts..... oh my!

Later! Gotta watch BB8! xoxo

Still thinking about Savannah.....

Here is a photo of my practice piece from the Savannah weekend. I still have more work to do: the reticello, mitering the corners, the hem stitch, needle weaving and bullion's. This will be a lovely table scarf when completed.
I'm sorry for the poor photo quality, but it's white on white!

I'm a member of Susan Greening Davis Yahoo groupies (of course!). Here is the post I left for the group after our return from Savannah:

What a great time in Savannah, but better yet, what an awesome project. Susan has out done her self on this beauty. Last night, I dreamed I had the whole project stitched and hanging in my guest room! This piece is a dream come true & it will be finished! It was a wonderful weekend of stitching with friends and meeting other LMP..... like minded people! I wanted the weekend to continue, so I brought my project pouch to work with me today & kept opening it up and peeking inside and touching the fabric and looking at the picture... (I'm hooked!).


We made it home around 8pm last night. A long drive, but we solved so many problems. Casted a movie. Laughed. Encouraged. Got to see Cathy's new grandson. Planned a tassel class. Anita stitched. She even did some cutting on her practice piece! It was just a great time.We thought we would share some things we learned on our Savannah trip:


~~You can go a day and a half without a room key & the hotel staff will still smile when they come to let you in your room.... again.
~~Mapquest does not know how to get to the hotel.
~~Coldstone Creamery Ice Cream is da bomb!
~~Coffee is good for you.
~~All roads lead to Mt. Dora
~~Even the masters lick their threads.
~~The Bay Street side of River Walk really is the "top shelf" of the historic district.
~~It's pretty neat to stitch with the eye of the needle, if you wear your thimble.... on the right finger...
~~Kathy can snort.
~~If you cut the wrong thread, weave the wrong way, follow Sally's rules and just cover it with a button!


I'm so thankful for all my stitching friends, new and old. I enjoy my time with you all. I think it is important for us to have opportunities to share and learn and am so thankful to Susan and Sally. My non-stitching friends are amazed that I would travel 6-8 hours, one way, to "put threads in a piece of fabric", but I'd do it in a heartbeat! If you ever get down on the Florida Gulf Coast, let me know, I'll let you sit in my favorite stitching chair, fix you a nice cool drink and stitch the time away with you.


Stay safe! Happy stitching!

Savannah

Was sooooooo awesome! the project Susan designed is beautiful. The more you look at it, the more detail you see. Last night I dreamed it was all stitched and hanging in my guest room. It will be one day soon!

It was such a joy to spend the weekend with other LMP! My non stitching friends and family (you know who you are) don't understand how much pleasure my stitching gives me! It truly is the best therapy in the world. Try it!

One of the things we did while driving up there was talk about the books we are/have read. We also had fun trying to cast the movie for the Janet Evanovich / Stephanie Plum series. We want to know who you think should play the part of Ranger????

Check out Susan's website. The link is in my sidebar.

Sweet dreams! Happy stitching!

One word answers....

You get to answer with one word.
1. Where is your Cellphone? - purse
2. Relationship? - married
3. Your Hair? - brown
4. Work? - busy
5. Your sister? - one
6. Your favorite thing? - home
7. Your dream last night? - water
8. Your favorite drink? - water
9. Your dream car? - CTS
10. The room you’re in? - office
11. Your shoes? - Birk's
12. Your fears? - snakes
13. What do you want to be in 10 years? - healthy
14. Who did you hang out with this weekend? - hubby
15. What are you not good at? - patience
16. Muffin? - cranberry
17. One of your wish list items? - CTS
18. Where you grew up? - Wichita
19. Last thing you did? - packed
20. What are you wearing? - pj's
21. What aren’t you wearing? - rings
22. Your pet? - hubby
23. Your computer? - Dell
24. Your life? - happy
25. Your mood? - sleepy
26. Missing? - Marla
27. What are you thinking about right now? - Savannah
28. Your car? - Mercury
29. Your kitchen? - clean
30. Your summer? - HOT
31. Your favorite color? - blue
32. Last time you laughed? - tonight
33. Last time you cried? - today
34. School? - nope
35. Love? - completely

Hurricane Charley August 13, 2004

It's been 3 years since we lived Hurricane Charley. Seems like yesterday. Seems like a lifetime ago. Our little piece of paradise was "ground zero" for Charley. Today, our town dedicated a sculpture to the people of the community. We went out yesterday evening and took some photos. It really is a beautiful piece of art. I hope you enjoy the picture. I think it is quite fitting the the sky was so ominous yesterday evening....

I remember what I was stitching on that day, Faith, by Emie Bishop, a Christmas gift for my boss, that I had the sense to start in January of that year! I took 1 progress photo and that was it. I did finish it and had it framed and ready to go by Christmas! Surprise! Next time I'm at their home I will get a real photo! I remember working the kloster blocks the day of the storm, stopping to pace, listening to the news reports, thinking we were all going to die, praying to God we made it... It was a comfort, once the power came back on, to be able to pick up my stitching again! Oh, my boss & family? They loved the piece & it hangs in their living room for all to see.

I have no stitching updates to post. Maybe I should rename my blog "365 excuses not to stitch"... It was just one of those weekends. I am in need of my social security card. The hunt was on. I found: My very first social security card, my social security card when I was married the first time, my social security card after my divorce when I took my maiden name back, my Oklahoma drivers license ( we moved from there in 2/96), $8.38 in change, a picture of my first car (a 1974 Chevy Nova!), all 3 kids social security cards, my passport, names and address' of people I don't even remember.... but no social security card in my current name (that I have had for 16 years thank you). So, it was off to the SS Admin office today. Not a pleasant place to spend 3 hours, but got a new card on the way and a letter from the SSA to prove I am who I am.... the real card should be here in 2 weeks.

I'm off to Savannah bright and early this Friday to spend the weekend stitching and learning with Susan Greening Davis, old friends and new. If you are going to be there, please let me know, I look forward to seeing you & /or meeting you! I just can't wait to have a stitchy weekend! Wish I could stitch in the car, but I'm one of those who can't. Can't even think about reading a book either. Oh well, Cathy and Anita will just have to entertain me!

xoxo ~~Martha~~

What's New?

We had a great time stitching on Sunday, lots of yummy deserts and enjoyable chatter! My stitching friends are great. Then, dingy me, I had my camera set out to take some action shots and forgot all about it until everyone was in swim suite attire..... Oh well. Maybe next time.
Today at work, we hosted our once a year seminar. Had about 60 folks come. Great lunch (I had baby greens and a crab cake, it was to die for!) and 3 great speakers.
That's about all I have to say about that!
EGA tomorrow night! Better get my bag packed so I'm ready to rock and roll at quitting time! Stay safe! Happy stitching!

No stitching time this week.....

No stitching for me today. Really none so far this week, but I plan to make up for that tomorrow. I'm having some old friends and a new friend join me for some stitching fun tomorrow. I can't wait! I made a yummy (I hope!) Caribbean Chicken Salad (it's a bit of an experiment, a little from this recipe, a little from that recipe, and a little of the grocery store didn't have that ingredient so I will substitute this ingredient! Will let you know what everyone thinks!) and a cool summer time lemon cake today. Cleaned house! Helped dear hubby with some yard work and took a couple dips in the pool! I'm soooooo looking forward to my stitching time with friends tomorrow. Wish everyone could join us! Here is where we will spend our stitching time. This is my favorite room in the house! I'm having some issues with the company that enclosed our Lanai..... Seems our sliders out to the pool area are scratched..... The company now claims we can not have that type window in an air conditioned space. Soooo.... why did they install them in an air conditioned space??? The owner is working with us for a solution. Will keep you posted, but I still love love love this room. I hope my stitching friends do too!! I took a plunge and invited a stranger..... well she is not a stranger anymore! I found this blogging stuff several months ago & went from one blog to another blog to another blog.... and ran across one from someone kinda near to me. I found her style interesting, her words kind and caring, I took the plunge and sent her an email inviting her to join us tomorrow. She accepted! Came and met me this week (I think she wanted to make sure I didn't have 3 heads (little does she know I keep 2 of them well hidden.....) We had a great time getting to know each other & I look forward to lots of stitching time with Deb, aka Lavender Rose! Thanks for taking a chance!

Other than that, a pretty quiet week for me. The boss came back from a family vacation in Scotland, so the work place got super busy on his return..... I know, I know, that's why they call it work and not stitching or swimming or boating or golfing or...... Anyway, he brought me back this beautimus wool afghan! I love it! Just my colors, goes perfect with my stitching pieces in the living room & helps to satisfy my fiber fetish! I will take a picture soon & post for your enjoyment!

K, I think that's enough blabbing from me for one day! Sweet dreams and happy stitching!

xoxo

Rocket Vapor Trail

The view from our home early this morning! Bruce went out to get the paper about 5:20 this morning & hollered for me to bring the camera. I'm so glad he did! I wish my photography skills were better. I used the night time setting on the camera, so this is lighter than it really was. Here is what meterologist Jim Clarke has to say about what we saw in the early morning pre dawn sky:

What Is That In The Sky? Early Saturday morning, emails and phone calls were received wondering what was being seen in the sky. About 30 minutes before sunrise the night sky revealed a beautiful and unusual display. The clouds were actually vapor that was emitted from an unmanned rocket launched by NASA at 5:26 EST that was heading to Mars. The clouds, which were 300,000 feet up in the sky, were then illuminated by the sunlight just below the horizon. This atmospheric phenomenon is known as called noctilucent clouds which roughly means “night shining” in Latin. Noctilucent clouds are most commonly seen during the summer months between 50 and 70 degrees north and south of the equator.

How cool is that?????

Progress Photo: Journey of Stitches 07/29/2007

This has to be my almost all time favorite from Susan Greening Davis. Of course, if you know me at all, you will know that EVERYTHING Susan designs is my almost all time favorite.....

I had hoped to complete this prior to the Savannah retreat 8/17, but know it is not going to happen. I just love love love my dear friend Cathy who saved me from sewing hell to put all the doo-dahs on the front of my commuter bag! I break out in a cold sweat when I have to design/create/sew with a sharp needle..... so was grateful when Cathy agreed to sew for me in exchange for tassels! I just love what she did. I can take the bag as a stitching bag to Savannah but my verse on the back will not be complete. Something for everyone to look forward to next year in Savannah.

Progress Photo Sunshine State Sampler 07/29/07

This is a new piece for me. I just had to start somthing different a month ago. I can't wait till it's finished, so it can join all the other finished but not complete pieces hanging in my closet...

What's in your closet? {;^)

Progress Photo for America, Land That I Love 07/29/07

I'm not sure if this is classified as a WIP or a UFO..... I love it! When we moved into this house 10 months ago, my dear husband asked me if I had "something to put on display on my floor stand that you will never finish, just like Ruby has"....

This is what I found!

Progress Photo Callie's Birth Sampler Block 07/29/07

Trying this again! I'm not sure if blogspot does not like me posting multi photos in a post, or is it comcast that does not like it, or, is it perhaps my cookie infested dell? Hmmmmmmmm.... All I can say, is it has been quite flusterating the last 2 nights....

Ok, here is where I stand on Callie'e birth sampler. I'm doing pretty well. She is only 2! I have to say I am not enjoying stitching this at all, but can't wait to see her quilt all sewn up. I am, indead, a linen snob now and this aida cloth is a nightmare to stitch on!