Happy Tuesday!

I waited a day so I could have a new post title....

Sorry, it's been one of those months!
I'm excited that tomorrow is Wednesday I can hardly stand it. Why do I wish my life away anyway??

Drum roll.... here is my SSNES for 7/27/08



Hob Nobb Designs by KAM
Stitched with DMC floss on 28 count linen that I had in my stash. Isn't it cute? I love it! This was a gift a couple of years ago from dear Ruby. I **hope** to finish finish it to go in my bedroom on the planned love wall... I've been stitching these heart patterns for a while and want to do a collage in the bedroom. Right now they hang in the closet with the rest of the finished but not finished pieces....

Oh well.

And another taaaaahhhh daaaaaaahhhhh


This Heart of Mine by Ink Circles. Stitched on 32 count Orange Zest with Glorianna Miami Deco.
There is more to the chart than I stitched, but I love the heart design. If I can give it up, it may be a wedding gift. Time will tell. I can enjoy it for a couple of months at least!

Nothing new on the home front. Nice and quiet. Work is work. Stocks are on sale. Too bad I don't have any extra bucks...

Oh, we went to see the new Batman movie Saturday night. Loved it! I also fell in love with the "Love" series by Janette Oke this weekend. Saturday on the Hallmark channel I watched: Love Comes Softly, Loves Enduring Promise, Loves Long Journey, Loves Abiding Joy, Loves Unending Legacy and Loves Unfolding Dream. Now I want to read the books!

And, I have to say thank you to Teejay for suggesting I put my projects under my dazor to take photos. I swear, you people are sooooo smart! It works. I would never have thought of that! Thank you!!!

Thanks for stopping by and spending part of your day with me.

Stay safe!
Happy stitching!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

It's another Monday

Welcome to Florida in the summer. Hot. Humid. Watching the tropics. No waiting in line at the local pub for a table. I can get an appointment with my Chiropractor the same day I call.
Life is good...

Not much new from me. Had a tassel class at Golden Needle on Saturday. Here are some of the tremendous tassel makers!



And look at the bounty.... they did such good work and it's so much fun to see the color combos!


They all graduated, and guess what? They got the tassels!

My Start Something New Every Sunday start:



Shepherd's Bush Road to Bethlehem

Again, I'm sorry for the crappy picture. The back of our house is all windows (you can see that in the Sunday Stitching photos located elsewhere in this blog). With the cost of everything going up, we decided we could save a few $ on our cooling bill if we dropped the hurricane blankets on the sliders on the back of the house. It does keep the house cooler, but, boy oh boy, do I miss the sunlight! Guess I have to pick my pain... I'm wondering if it will help me sleep in on Saturday mornings because it will be darker longer in the bedroom?? We left one set of window open so we can access the pool but it's still not enough light for me. It's only temporary.

Again, nothing new to yap about. Work is work. Life is life. Hot is hot.
Stay safe!
Happy stitching!
~~Martha~~

Happy Day (or--- I can't think if a catchy title!)

Excuse my crap for photos but it's all I got...



The top of the Sea Horse box is finished. Except for the beads. And the buttons. (pattern calls for buttons, I'm thinking sea life charms would be tons better). And the finishing finishing. Need to stitch the sides too.




This Heart of Mine on Orange Zest stitched with Miami Deco Gloriana silk. 2 strands won!




And my reverse rotation project, aka start something new every Sunday (SSNES) (sounds like sneeze! Ha!) project. From Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornaments 2004, Love Heart Ornament. Started Sunday 07/13/2008. Just need to add the date and do the dreaded finishing. That will determine if I like it enough to stitch 23 more. Right now I'm thinking no. I'm such a wuss when it comes to finishing and sewing machines and glue. Ack.

Steamy Sunday Stitching was yesterday. We had a wonderful time and I forgot to get my camera out! I was sooooo bummed when I realized everyone was gone and I never snapped a picture. Here's something new. Call it word pictures.

Click...
Hellos, Tater Bar, Spinach artichoke dip, Blue corn chips, Shrimp, Ruby said stupid, rain, home made from scratch cheesecake with strawberry & pineapple glaze, Stupid???, Politics, EGA, Beads, weight loss, ANG, Canvas, Linen, twin grandbabies, Nutcrackers, Laughter, talk talk talk talk talk talk, cookbooks, Silence, fibers, Counting, Twisted cording, Oh, she meant to say NOT stupid, Starts, Finishes, ABWA, goodbyes, silence.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures!
Happy stitching! I'm off to work on Orange Zest some more. Also have to get ready for tassels 2 class at Golden Needle next Saturday. I'll just wing it. I tend to overplan! Gotta go!
Stay safe!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Happy Monday!!!

Aren't 4 day weekends just one of the best things in the working world?? We had a great weekend hanging out around the house. Thursday was shopping with Ruby. Friday was cooking, cleaning, stitching, swimming, floating, reading, napping and downtown to watch the fireworks on the harbor. Saturday was more stitching with Eleanor and a little bit of time in the pool too! Sunday was even more stitching and visiting with Ruby and Bill!

What do I have to show for all this????



This Heart of Mine on the Calypso fabric!
I also started this on the Orange zest. No photo, not much to show. I'm debating if I should stitch it with 2 strands of silk or only 1. I did a sample each way & I can't decide!
I also started the Sea Horse box last night. Not much to show on that either as I just worked the outside border of the box lid. I'm liking this reverse rotation thing. My main concern right now is..... how am I going to keep track of and store all these starts, let alone ever get another finish??

Oh, one more photo to share. Eleanor put the grommet in my Camp Stitch ~ A ~ Way floss tag so that makes this officially finished! I love it!!!





This Sunday is Steamy Sunday Stitching and baked tater bar. Y'all come!
Thanks for stopping by and leaving me such wonderful messages!
Happy week!
Happy stitching!
Be safe!!!
~~Martha~~

Jane tagged me!

Rules: You must answer the questions using only one word. Then tag four others.

1. Where is your cell phone? Bar
2. Your significant other? Bruce
3. Your hair? Dyed
4. Your mother? Dead
5. Your father? Dead
6. Your favorite thing? Laughing
7. Your dream last night? None
8. Your favorite drink? Lemonade
9. Your dream/goal? Retirement
10. The room you’re in? Family
11. Your hobby? Needlework
12. Your fear? Blindness
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Retired
14. What you’re not? Rich
15. Muffins? Cranberry
16. One of your wish list items? Poolboy
17. Where you grew up? Kansas
18. The last thing you did? Stitched
19. What are you wearing? Tshirt
20. Favorite gadget? Ipod
21. Your pets? None
22. Your computer? Laptop
23. Your mood? Relaxed
24. Missing someone? Marla
25. Your car? Old
26. Something you’re not wearing? Bra!
27. Favorite store? Dillards
28. Like someone? Everyone
29. Your favorite color? Blue
30. When is the last time you laughed? Today
31. Last time you cried? Forgotten

Hmmmm I tag: Nicole (Caroline Dreams), Kathy (Purple Wildcat), Deborah (Lavender Rose) and Carol (Stitchaholic).

When the stitching mojo goes....

the mojo - less stitcher goes SHOPPING!!!

I decided to take advantage of a 3 day weekend and make it a 4 day weekend by taking a vacation day Thursday. My dear Ruby came and picked me up yesterday morning for a shopping trip to our LNS, Golden Needle. Ruby had things she needed to get. I found things I had to get. The results are posted below...


I fell in love with this box and HAD to get the fabric and the Dinky Dyes to stitch it.
Fabric is 28 count cream linen (I don't remember exactly what it is!) The fibers are Dinky Dyes Cloud Sky, Billabong, Hawthorn, Nullabor, Outback and Choco Latte. The chart is from the most recent issue of The Gift of Stitching.com.

Now, the picture does not do the fabric or the fiber Justice. This all started out innocently enough. You may recall that I am the official Golden Needle Fiber Fondle-er and that's what started all this. I can not avoid the wall of silk fibers.... I have to run my hands over each and every one when ever I visit..... and the the colors just stick to my hands and come off the rack.... then they move upstairs to the fabric room and, and, and they make me touch the fabrics and spread them out on the table and toss and toss and experiment... The fabric is 28 count cashel and the color is called Calypso! The fiber is Gloriana Silk Ada's Rainbow.

Then this picture does not do it justice combo... 32 count "Orange Zest" and the fiber is Gloriana Silk Miami Deco. Now, what am I going to do with these 2 pieces of fabric and the fiber????
Looky here!!!:

Ink Circles, This Heart of Mine. Yup. Both of them!! (Don't tell anyone, but last night at 10:30 I started the calypso combo! Oh my gosh.... I'll post a update picture tomorrow, if I can keep my hands off it long enough to post!

Don;t you just love a good gadget that is way kewl to look at too??? I've been lusting after these on the Shepherds Bush website the past couple of months and Cathy got some in the shop. It's called a Craft Strand Separator and is supposed to make separating your fibers easier. My train of thought here, and the reason for my purchase... when I make my twisted cording for my tassels, I need something to weight the middle. I've been using my key ring or a spring ring, but I think this will work perfectly and look kewl in the process. Will let you know!!!

S'more update:
Here is the microwave S'more recipe
Top 4 Honey Maid Honey Graham squares with 1 Hershey milk chocolate piece and 1 untoasted Jet Puffed Marshmallow. Arrange on microwaveable plate. Microwave on High for 15-20seconds or until marshmallows puff. Top each with a second graham square, press lightly to secure and enjoy!!

At work this week, I made up gift bags with a bag of marshmallows, a box of graham crackers and a package of Hershey bars and took these to referral centers (we work closely with local attorneys and cpa's). I put a note in each gift bag that said "Enjoy a microwave S'more Break! Have a safe and happy Independence Day Holiday" and my financial advisor and I signed the notes. The attorneys, cpa's and staff loved them! It got our names in front of them and was a pretty cheap marketing blitz. What we hope is that they send us smore money!!!

On another subject. I love the Stephanie Plum novels. I loaned these books to my dear Ruby a couple of weeks ago and she is all ready reading number 11! She is hooked and in love with Ranger!!! This started a whole 'nother subject at the LNS yesterday. If we could cast the perfect Stephanie Plum movie, who would play what part??? Here is what we came up with and are asking all 6 of my blog readers to tell us who we should cast.....

Stephanie Plum ~~~~~~~~~~ Sandra Bullock
Helen Plum ~~~~~~~~~~ Doris Roberts or Angela Landsbury
Frank Plum ~~~~~~~~~~ Peter Boyle
Grandma Mazur ~~~~~~~~~~ Estelle Getty
Joe Morelli ~~~~~~~~~~ George Cluney (scruffed up!)
Carlos Manuso ~~~~~~~~~~ Dwayne Johnson or Shemar Moore
Valerie Plum ~~~~~~~~~~ Reese Witherspoon
Albert Kloughn ~~~~~~~~~~ Drew Carey with no personality
Lula ~~~~~~~~~~ Queen Latifa
Connie Rosolli ~~~~~~~~~~
Vinnie ~~~~~~~~~~ Danny Davito
Joyce Barnhart ~~~~~~~~~~ Pamela Sue Anderson
Dickie Orr ~~~~~~~~~~
Sally Sweet ~~~~~~~~~~
Tank ~~~~~~~~~~
Eddie Gazarra ~~~~~~~~~~
Mrs. Bestler ~~~~~~~~~~

Let me know what you think, please! If we can get all the characters cast, I'll send an email to Janet Evanovich!

I'm off to do a little bit of housework. The pool is calling my name and it needs cleaned as well and I'm in the middle of reading "The Shack" so I'm looking forward to a float in the pool with my book as a reward for the cleaning. We may or may not go downtown tonight to watch the fireworks. We can see enough and hear enough from home, really, and not have to fight the traffic in and find a place to park. I will be stitching later today....

Oh. 1 more thing.....

I love this idea..... a reverse rotation for my stitching.
Read more 'bout it here: http://spinsterstitcher.blogspot.com/2008/07/chrissys-reverse-rotation.html

Count me in! I'm doing it. Let me know if you will be doing it too (sounds like a commercial for "results weight loss center", doesn't it?) Life is too short to lose your stitching mojo.

Life's too short. Stitch, eat microwave s'mores, drink a mojito (or 2!), call a friend, mend a fence, be a Tigger, smile at a stranger....

Have a safe and happy holiday, what ever you do!
xoxo
~~Martha~~