Gone Stitchin' Instead of Just A Wishin'

WIPocalypse Update #2

2012-02-12T13:25:00.002-05:00

Time for an update! Have to say I am pleased with my progress this past month. Ladies and gentlemen.... we have 2 finishes!!!

First finish of 2012:

Tina's Stocking-Shepherds Bush, for daughter-in-law Brandy!

Second finish:

Keslyn's Vicki's Essence

This is a late add to my WIPocalypse list. I have had my eyeball on the chart for several months. I confess... every time I went in to the Golden Needle, I would gaze at the chart.... but several weeks ago, I found the perfect piece of fabric and the rest is history. I love this piece! Too bad my photographic skills do not do the piece justice (I'm working on my new camera skillz... bear with me!!)

RIP Whitney Houston. You had an amazing voice and presence in our lives. Life did not treat you kind. I wish you peace and happiness. Adding my own editorial here, and please, do not think me cold and heartless, as I truly believe we all have the ability as well as the opportunity to pick our pain... and our joy....ie: choices... I am deeply saddened by the death of Whitney Houston, but do we really need entire news/entertainment shows dedicated to her life/death? Wouldn't it be nice if we spent this much time talking about and honoring our solders who made the choice and are killed each day, protecting us, our rights, our safety, our liberties, instead of focusing on the wasted talent of a drug addict who, like you and I had the ability to make a choice?

It's an unusually cold and breezy day on the Gulf Coast. Off to a surprise birthday party for a dear friend this afternoon.

Happy stitching!! xoxo ~~m~~

WIPocalypse Update #1

2012-01-10T21:11:00.000-05:00

Not much stitching done so far this year. At least not as much as I would like! My new start for 2012 was Itty Bitty's by Keslyn. I was able to get one block finished!!

Here are photos of the current state of affairs of my other WIPs. I thought now was a good time to document my "starting point"...

1. Christmas Quaker by Stickideen von der Wiehenburg

2. Cherlotte's Sampler by Cherished Stitches

3. Lo How a Rose Sampler by Better Homes and Gardens: A Cross Stitch Christmas

4. Strawberry Garden by Blackbird Designs

5. Silent Sampler by rosewood manor

6. Miss Mary Mack by La-D-Da

7. Multiplication Table by Carriage House Samplings (times 2!)

8. Cranberry In Pines by rosewood Manor

9. From The East by Astor Place

10. ...gone by Michelle Ink Needlework Designs

11. Tina's Stocking by Shepherd's Bush

My 2011 Finishes

2012-01-02T20:51:00.000-05:00

For the past several years, I have been stitching the Shepherd's Bush Christmas Stockings for my grandchildren. This year I got them all done and with the help of my friend, Eleanor, got them finished finished AND shipped off to their new homes. I am so happy with they way they turned out! Santa had fun filling them too!

For Miss Emma, our latest addition!

And Kegan who joined our family in December 2010 when my daughter married his father!

For Alaura, our oldest grandchild who just turned 13

For our first granson, Trey

For granddaughter number 2, Miss Callie Jane

Youngest grandson, Master Jordyn

WIPocalypse

2012-01-02T19:03:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year to you and yours!

I spent part of the holiday weekend organizing my stitching stuffs,making my lists, designed, stitched and graphed my annual Christmas Ornament for 2012, made soup, and cut and bagged veggies for lunches this week. Geesh... I need another 4 day weekend! Here is my WIPocalypse list:

Works in process that I hope to finish:
1. Christmas Quaker by Stickideen von der Wiehenburg
2. Cherlotte's Sampler by Cherished Stitches
3. Lo How a Rose Sampler by Better Homes and Gardens: A Cross Stitch Christmas
4. Strawberry Garden by Blackbird Designs
5. Silent Sampler by rosewood manor
6. Miss Mary Mack by La-D-Da
7. Multiplication Table by Carriage House Samplings (times 2!)
8. Cranberry In Pines by rosewood Manor
9. From The easy by Astor Place
10. ...gone by Michelle Ink Needlework Designs
11. Tina's Stocking by Shepherd's Bush

New Starts for 2012:
1. 26 Gingerbread Christmas Ornaments
2. Itty-Bitty's by Keslyn's
3. Button Boxes by The Drawn Thread
4. toccata number One by The Drawn Thread
5. Robert's Stocking by Shepherd's Bush
6. Paradise Lost by Plum Street Samplers
7. And a Forest Grew by Rosewood Manor
8. Thine Is The Trick And The Treat by Prairie Moon
9. A Quaker Halloween Sampler by Cherished Stitches

Wish me luck!
Now off to make Itty-Bitty a WIP and not a want-a-be!

Happy New Year!
xoxo ~~m~~

Surprise...

2012-01-01T00:12:00.000-05:00

I signed up for WIPocalypse... Off to make my lists and stuff!
Happy New Year!

(Check one thing off my resolution list!)

Houston... We Have A Finish !!!!

2011-08-07T22:28:00.002-04:00

Ladies & Gentleman... after 31 months and 8 days of labor, I have finished Family Reunion Sampler by Rosewood Manor. Stitched on 28 count joblen waterlilies with DMC threads. This was a joy to work on and I am sad to see it end.

What's next??? Several things.... of course! Tonight I started Brightneedle's "Lo How A Rose" from the 2001 Better Homes and Gardens Celebrations in Stitches. Logged one hour on the project. Yesterday to celebrate the anticipated finish of Family Reunion Sampler, I went to Golden Needle and came home with the fabric (31" x 25" cut of 28 count Amber linen) Floss (DMC) and chart to stitch Christmas-Quaker by Stickideon von der Wiehenburg. I have wanted to stitch this piece for a couple of years. Tomorrow I will make my working copy of the chart and start on it soon. Can you believe the chart calls for 17 skeins of DMC 777? Holy Moly! Also in the bag (started) is Charlotte's Sampler, I am stitching it on black 28 count evenweave and it is going to be beautiful! Yup... some things never change, I shall always be the "Queen of Starts"!

If anyone is still following this blog, I apologize for the lenght between posts. The last couple years were tuff ones on the job, but I left that toxic environment in February and started a new job. Life is good!!!
Follow me on facebook or twitter for more frequent updates. Email me for details!

Thanks for hanging in there! ~~ xoxo ~~

Did you ever have a song in your head you could not get rid of???

2010-07-20T22:44:00.002-04:00

Remember this song.....

There's a log in the hole
In the bottom of the sea,
There's a log in the hole
In the bottom of the sea,
There's a log, there's a log,
There's a log in the hole
In the bottom of the sea.
There's a branch on the log in the hole
In the bottom of the sea,
There's a branch on the log in the hole
In the bottom of the sea,
There's a branch, there's a branch,
There's a branch on the log in the hole
In the bottom of the sea.

There's a bump on the branch on the log
In the hole in the bottom of the sea,
There's a bump on the branch on the log
In the hole in the bottom of the sea,
There's a bump, there's a bump,
There's a bump on the branch on the log
In the hole in the bottom of the sea.

There's a frog on the bump on the branch
on the log in the hole in the bottom of the sea,
There's a frog on the bump on the branch
on the log in the hole in the bottom of the sea,
There's a frog, there's a frog,
There's a frog on the bump on the branch
on the log in the hole in the bottom of the sea.

There's a tail on the frog on the bump on the branch
on the log in the hole in the bottom of the sea,
There's a tail on the frog on the bump on the branch
on the log in the hole in the bottom of the sea,
There's a tail, there's a tail,
There's a tail on the frog on the bump on the branch
on the log in the hole in the bottom of the sea.

There's a speck on the tail on the frog
On the bump on the branch
On the log in the hole in the bottom of the sea,
There's a speck on the tail on the frog
On the bump on the branch
on the log in the hole in the bottom of the sea,
There's a speck, there's a speck,
There's a speck on the tail on the frog
On the bump on the branch on the log
In the hole in the bottom of the sea.

There's a fleck on the speck on the tail
On the frog on the bump on the branch
On the log in the hole in the bottom of the sea,
There's a fleck on the speck on the tail
On the frog on the bump On the branch
On the log in the hole in the bottom of the sea,
There's a fleck, there's a fleck,
There's a fleck on the speck on the tail
On the frog on the bump on the branch
On the log in the hole in the bottom of the sea.

%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^

Well.... yesterday morning on the way to work, I heard this version of the song....

THERE’S A HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA,
THERE’S A HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA,
THERE’S A HOLE, THERE’S A HOLE,
THERE’S A HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA,

THERE’S A LEAK FROM THE PIPE,
THAT’S STUCK IN THE HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA,
THERE’S A STINK AND A SMELL,
FROM THE OIL IN THE WELL,
FROM THE PIPE THAT’S STUCK,
IN THE THICK BLACK MUCK,
IN THE HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA,
THERE’S A HOLE, THERE’S A HOLE,
THERE’S A HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA,

THERE’S NO END TO THE COST,
OR THE JOBS THAT ARE LOST,
BY THE FOLKS GETTING SCREWED,
FROM THE SPILL OF THE CRUDE,
THAT YOU FIND IN THE CLAMS,
THAT YOU DIG IN THE SAND,
ON THE BEACH FULL OF TAR,
WHICH FLOATED FAR,
ON TOP OF THE WAVES,
SENDING FISH TO THEIR GRAVES ,
DEEP DOWN BELOW,
WHERE THEY COULDN'T STOP THE FLOW,
FROM THE HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA.

YES THE B.P. FOOLS,
SKIRTED SAFETY RULES,
TO SAVE SOME DOUGH,
WHICH CAUSED THE FLOW,
ALL GOOEY AND THICK,
WHICH MADE THE SLICK,
ON TOP OF THE WATER,
WHICH LED TO THE SLAUGHTER,
OF THE TURTLES AND THE BIRDS,
WHICH, IF YOU HAVEN’T HEARD,
ARE COATED WITH THE CRAP,
THAT THEY CAN’T SEEM TO TRAP,
SINCE THEY LOST CONTROL,
OF THE DEEP-WELL HOLE,
IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA.
THERE’S A HOLE, THERE’S A HOLE,
THERE’S A HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA.

I can't get it out of my head...

In memory

2009-10-28T22:48:00.005-04:00

My brother Charles lost his battle with cancer last week. I made it to Wichita in time to spend the last few days with him and my family. It was one of the hardest, saddest weeks of my life. It was also one of the best weeks of my life. The time spent with my family was priceless. We will all miss him, but know he is in a better place and no longer suffering.

The car on the front of the memorial is the 53 he rebuilt

The American Legion Patriot Guard

This photo really pulls at my heart. Ft. Riley provided the honor guard. This man didn't know my brother. He didn't know my family. He cried for a fellow soldier.

My brothers family.

Rest in peace Chuckles. We love you!

So sorry!

2009-09-13T15:57:00.005-04:00

It was never my intention to abandon this blog! If anyone out there is still reading, I'm still alive.

I am not able to post to my blog from my laptop. I am now running firefox and can not figure out how to allow cookies and enable java. I'm sooo computer challenged. I grabbed Bruce's computer for a quick update!

We just returned home from a weeks visit to Kansas and Oklahoma. This is the first time that I have not been ready to go back to work after a vacation. It was soooo wonderful to see my family!

I have no stitchy pictures to show! So sorry! I have been stitching on my Christmas ornaments during my lunch break and that is about it. The pattern I am using is Daffycats' reindeer pattern she offered on her blog earlier this year. Sooo cute! I can not wait to get my hands on the JCS Christmas Ornament issue. We have stitch night this Wednesday, so that is on the list. October 3, my LNS Golden Needle is hosting a UFO Stitching day. From 11am to 11pm! Rules are you have to bring stuff to stitch that you have all ready started and a sack lunch. Dinner provided! I'm looking forward to this "forced stitching time"! October 31 is stitching with Susan Greening Davis at Golden Needle. The project looks wonderful. I just need to get my ars off this computer and stitch!

Now to bore you with all my non stitchy pictures:

Several weeks ago, we had a much needed R & R with friends on Sanibel Island. We went from the pool, to the gulf, to the pool, to the gulf, to the pool, to the hot tub, to the gulf, to the pool.... all weekend long. It was heaven! The Island was very quiet and we were the only occupants of the condo unit that we stayed at.

Then it was off to Wichita to visit my family.
My brothers and my sister
Back: Martha, Jim, Duane, Larry Seated: Chuck, Merlyn

Please keep my brother Chuck, his wife Cheryl and their children and grandchildren in your thoughts and prayers. He has stopped all treatments and hospice has been helping with his care.

My cousin Karen, my baby brother Duane and my cousin Georgia

My nephew Clark, niece Deiedra, brother Larry

My brother Chuck, my Aunt Dee and baby brother Duane

Then we went to Oklahoma to see our sons and grandsons!

Bruce, youngest son Jon, oldest Paul

Grandson Trey

Grandson Jordyn

Jon Jordyn Trey

We came home yesterday afternoon. The laundry is done. The suitcase is put away. It's back to work tomorrow. So sad!

We had a call from son Paul early this morning telling us we would be grandparents again! So exciting! I told them I want triplet grandsons... just kidding!

Take care! Happy stitching! Till next time...
xoxo ~~m~~

Surprise, surprise, surprise!

2009-08-02T20:40:00.003-04:00

Wow,it has been a while! Sorry! I'm still hooked on facebook and farmtown!
I do have some stitching progress to share!

I worked one weekend on Pretty Pumpkins. So much fun & so pretty!

I also finished my part on the Quaker Friendship Round Robin for Sharyn. This RR has been so much fun

Aside from that I have been working on Christmas ornaments. Did not take any pictures of those. Sorry! Work is still a bear. Have the boss from hell.... makes work that much worse. Only saving grace this week is he is on vacation until next Thursday. It's almost as good as being on my own vacation... Woops... I didn't say that did I???

I will try to do a better job and make more frequent updates! Thanks for sticking with me!

Off to get my wardrobe ready for the work week....
Stay safe! Happy stitching!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

The wrath of grapes et al....

2009-06-14T10:08:00.002-04:00

Just to let y'all know....
I'm addicted to farming....
Farm Town on Facebook that is...
I plow. Plant. Harvest. Buy more land. Plow. Plant. Harvest. Buy more land...
Make cross stitch patterns out of my fields.
Sick. Very sick.
I'm saving my money to buy a house and a barn.
Not much stitching here. Too much farming going on.
No pictures to share.
Stay with me. I'll be back to my fat, sassy, mean and nasty self soon!
Enjoy your day. I'm off to harvest grapes!
Friend me on Facebook and I'll introduce you to my addiction!
Happy stitching! Happy farming!!
xoxo
~~m~~

Camp Pictures!

2009-05-17T19:06:00.006-04:00

We had a wonderful weekend. Wish you all could have joined us. Lord knows we had plenty of food!!!

Ruby, Linda & Julie are all settled in and stitching away.

Julie & Linda again. Linda brought her own chair from home. In her Mustang. In two pieces... See the cool little stand by Julie? She is so smart. She had a floor stand that she no longer used but liked the tray that was attached. Took the tray off and stuck it in the top of a candle holder and waaa laaaa... this cool organizer for stitching!

Stitchers stitching. Stitchers laughing. That's Ethel with the big smile. She is really a quilter, but became a needlepointer over the weekend...

Ethel is just waaayyy too serious. That only lasted for a few minutes... I think she was faking...

Chris brought this big beautiful bird project. She pretty much stayed in this position all weekend. I wish I would have taken before and after photos of everyones progress!

Gail, Carol Ann and Mary Jane were not the least bit distracted by the basket of munchies on the coffee table...

Barbara & Michelle, mother & daughter. They both got a lot of stitching in. Barbara got to camp late on Friday. She was on a cruise ship that had to stop and rescue some Cuban's from their sinking boat off the coast of Miami.

Saturday lunch salad spread.

This is what Linda's piece looked like on Friday afternoon.

This was what Linda's piece looked like on Saturday night.

Ruth and Ethel hard at work.

Our weekend project, created by Michelle. She made hardanger easy for all!

Julie taking a break Saturday evening.

Saturday dinner crew. Spaghetti with the fixings. Ruby, Miriam, Virginia, Sweet Charlotte and Chris.

We did a 50/50 draw, that ended up being a 50/25/25 draw because the winner offered to split with someone else. Julie was the second winner. She also won the cute little pink totebag too!

Our weekend went by way too fast. by the time we parted ways on Sunday, the meals were all planned for next year!

Sorry for the really bad photo. This is what I started at Camp and finished today at Rubys.

Blogger keeps freezing up my computer and is not being cooperative at all. I'm unable to run spellcheck, so sorry about all the errors.... A speller I am not!

Hope your week is wonderful! Stay safe & happy stitching!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Camp Stitch ~A~ Way

2009-05-07T21:42:00.001-04:00

Starts tomorrow...
More later!!
Happy stitching!! Stay safe!!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

My little brother got married

2009-04-26T19:53:00.010-04:00

last night. I didn't get to go to the wedding because:
1. it was in Kansas and
2. I was in the jury pool for the week. Stinks to be so far from family... But, in true family fashion, they made sure I didn't miss a thing...

Mr. & Mrs. Clark

The cake, made by the bride

Flat Martha crashes yet another party in Kansas

Having a drink with my little brother

Having a drink with my new sister-in-law

Having a drink with my niece Dee

Having a drink with my niece Jamie

Having a drink with the best man

3 of my brothers

Jamie after cake! Ick!

My great niece Katie and her date heading to the prom after the wedding

My niece Dee and her daughter Courtney

At least now I know why I woke up with a headache this morning!

Sorry, no stitchy pictures this week. Work, yard work, house work, jury duty and facebook have kinda got in my way. Maybe next post will have a stitchy update!
Thanks for stopping by! Stay safe & happy stitching!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T21:26:00.005-04:00

Quaker Gone Tropic update

I just wish there were more hours in the day available for stitching!

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

Rainy Sunday

2009-03-29T20:12:00.007-04:00

I really do stitch....

Progress as of this evening on Family Reunion

And Quaker Gone Tropic

Went to an All Day All Nighter Stitchy gathering Friday. Yes, I made it all night. Barely. Paid dearly for it yesterday. We had a blast. Ate a lot. Drank a little. Talked more than anything. Did I bring my camera? Well, yes. Did I take the time to take any photos? No. Maybe Ruby will send me some to share. Sorry about that.

I spent some time out in the garage today. I have half a dozen totes that I never unpacked when we moved down here over 7 years ago. Sad. I was looking for my older photo albums. Did not find them, but, found half a tote full of old cross stitch magazines and charts! Just like Christmas! I think the bulk of them are going to end up at the swap table at Camp. I wish you all could join us!

That's it from here. Nothing new to chat about. Stay safe! Happy Stitching!!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Alive!

2009-03-22T20:14:00.002-04:00

Sorry to be MIA for so long, but that flu knocked me on my arss.... Back to normal, what ever that is

It's one thing to be too sick to go to work. Another to be too sick to stitch! I'm not fond of the later....

All better now. Thanks so much for your notes and calls! U R the best.

I have been working on Camp Stitch ~A~ Way. We have room for a few more campers. Anybody interested in a weekend of stitching, eating and yapping? Mother's Day weekend. Let me know! Fun will be had by all!

I finished our taxes today. Yippee skippee! Off to stitch on Tropical Quaker. It has been too long since I fondled the fibers...

Photos and more stuff later!
Happy stitching! Stay safe and be well!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Sick Bay

2009-02-28T10:59:00.006-05:00

The flu is bad. I'm not a good sick person. This has been my view since noon on Wednesday.

Dear Mr. Wonderful. He is going to kill me when he sees this picture. He has been such a good nurse! Poor guy had cataract surgery on Wednesday and came home for me to take care of him. What a trooper.

Things I have learned the last few days:
Daytime tv sucks.
Night time tv sucks.
Thank God for the Hallmark Channel (Little House on the Prairie is on for 4 hours a day!) and HGTV
Don't watch Anthony Bourdine when you are sick.
My ceiling fans on the laini need cleaned. Bad
The ceiling fan in the family room needs cleaned.
The hide-a-bed is not comfortable.
You can survive 3 days on Vernors Ginger Ale and white rice.
I miss stitching, but looking at it waiting for me is a comfort.
I don't care what did or did not happen at work.
Tamiflu helps, but man is it expensive!

Needless to say, no stitching this week. Maybe today. After my late morning nap.

Deb at http://lavenroseramblings.blogspot.com/ had this little list thingy on her blog. Thought I would play along. Especially since there were numerous times the last few days I wished my life was over... hoping that truck that hit me on Wednesday would back up and put me out of my misery...
Anyway, here's the fun questionnaire:
Things you have already done: bold
Things you want to do: italicize
Things you haven’t done and don’t want to: leave in plain font

1. started your own blog
2. slept under the stars
3. played in a band does junior high school orchestra count?
4. visited Hawaii
5. watched a meteor shower
6. given more than you can afford to charity
7. been to Disneyworld
8. climbed a mountain
9. held a praying mantis--- I hate bugs!
10. sang a solo
11. bungee jumped---once. Never ever again
12. visited Paris
13. watched a lightning storm at sea--we have awesome lightening storms on the gulf coast
14. taught yourself an art from scratch
15. adopted a child - if I were young enough...
16. had food poisoning
17. walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. grown your own vegetables
19. seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. slept on an overnight train
21. had a pillow fight
22. hitch hiked - once, when my new step cousin from California came to visit us in Kansas. I just knew we were going to get hacked to pieces...
23. taken a sick day when you’re not ill--I can't lie well enough to pull this one off
24. built a snow fort
25. held a lamb
26. gone skinny dipping
27. run a marathon
28. ridden a gondola in Venice
29. seen a total eclipse
30. watched a sunrise or sunset -We also have beautiful sunsets on the Gulf coast
31. hit a home run
32. been on a cruise
33. seen Niagara Falls in person -- thanks to Chris!
34. visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. seen an Amish community
36. taught yourself a new language
37. had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. seen the leaning tower of Pisa in person
39. gone rock climbing
40. seen Michelangelo’s David in person
41. sung karaoke
42. seen Old Faithful (geyser) erupt
43. bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. visited Africa
45. walked on a beach by moonlight
46. been transported in an ambulance
47. had your portrait painted
48. gone deep sea fishing
49. seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. been to the top of the Eiffel tower in Paris
51. gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. kissed in the rain
53. played in the mud
54. gone to a drive-in theater
55. been in a movie
56. visited the Great Wall of China
57. started a business
58. taken a martial arts class
59. visited Russia

I'm boring.
Stay well.
Happy stitching!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Post and run....

2009-02-24T19:18:00.004-05:00

We have a convenience type store not too far away, called Pick & Run. Maybe that is what I should have titled this post as that is about all the energy I have tonight.

No stitching pictures. I've been under the weather the past week or so. My blood pressure is whacked out, which is whacking me out which just makes everything 1000 times worse! I'll get it under control and get over it. I'm not one to take medication, so right now the Dr has me on something (can't remember & I'm too lazy to get up and go look), but once we get it stabilized I will be messing with diet (yuck!!) and exercise (double triple yuck!!!) to control it. Hope hope.

I stitched this weekend on Family Reunion. I wanted to stitch on Quaker Tropic, but am trying a rotation. One week for each of my 3 new favorite projects. We will see how that works out.

Saturday I spent the day at our local Wine and Jazz Festival. It was a picture perfect "Chamber of Commerce" day! I was at the VIP check in gate all day. My official job was to "bag" everybody. The ticket price included a neat little wine bottle tote bag with a wine glass for sampling all the wonderful wines offered by the vendors. The wine was great, as was the food but, the entertainment was amazing! I fell in love with Mindi Abair. Check her out! Wow.... can she play that sax and sing! But not at the same time!

Before the wine food and jazz lovers arrive.

Mindi Abair during sound check.

Some of the festival goers.

Mindi doing her thing. She is amazing. Did I say that yet??

A Punta Gorda Post Card for Mindi created by one of our resident artist and signed by a lot of the festival attendees.

There ya go, a look at my weekend. Keep your fingers crossed for stitchy pictures next post. Thanks for stopping by! Thanks for all the wonderful words on Tropic Quaker. I do appreciate them!!! Happy stitching and stay safe!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Quaker Gone Tropic

2009-02-15T17:00:00.002-05:00

What fun! I love working with these silks! I love the colors together!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Funky fiber Fetish

2009-02-15T13:29:00.002-05:00

I have always been in love with Silk N Colors Mermaid Shimmer.
After this morning, I'm now in a serious relationship with Gloriana Jewel Turquoise.

Photos later today.....

We are counting down the minutes till the green flag drops at Daytona!

More later!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

I'm a blog stalker......

2009-02-14T19:56:00.006-05:00

Ok, I admit it. I stalk your blogs. I read about what you are stitching. I read about what your are reading. I read about your good days. Your rants. Your raves. I read about where you are going on vacation. Then I come out of hiding! Case in point.... I'm stalking, I mean reading, blogs last night and I see a post from Ann at Knowledge and Needles that she is in Port Charlotte, Florida. Hello.... it's just across the Harbor from me.... So I email her. Hi.... I'm a blogger stalker.... you don't know me, but..... Well.... she EMAILED ME BACK! She even gave me her phone number.... and the address where she was staying.... SCARY! Right Deb???? I called her this morning. Offered to pick her up and take her to my LNS Golden Needle. She accepted! How strange is that??? And... low and behold.... her husband and her friends even let her leave with me! Musta' been because my truck didn't have a gun rack in the back window.... We had a wonderful morning. Shopped at the Bead Room & Golden Needle. I keep saying over and over.... "the power of the floss"... How true! Think about it. All this blog/needlework stuff. It's all because of the power of the floss. What a wonderful thing! May the floss be with you! Thank you Ann for trusting me and for spending part of your vacation with me!

So of course, I did some shopping at Golden Needle. Cathy has been tempting me for 2years with a chart she knew was in process and was right up my alley. So. What do you get when you take this:

Lakeside Linens 28 Ct Wisteria
And add this:

Silk N Colors Hummingbirds

And this....

Silk N Colors African Queen
And .... this!!!!

Glorianna Halloween Green
And... don't forget this!

Glorianna Jewel Turquoise
????????????????????

This!!!!!!!

Michelle Ink Quaker Goes Tropic!!! I'm starting this as soon as I get this post posted. I pulled my fibers at the Super Bowl Sale. I've been waiting impatiently for the chart. I have it now, in my hot little hands.... Cathy & I are having a Stitch A Long! I'm soooo happy!

And. I have another SEX confession....

Rosewood Manor (Go Figure!) Simple Sampler. I'm starting this tomorrow! I can not wait....

And I have a semi finish report to report...

Quaker Friendship Round Robin. I'm finished with my portion for http://acozylittleplaceforstitching.blogspot.com

That's all I have to say for the evening. I'm itchin' to stitch! I'm looking forward to the Daytona 500 and my Monday President's Day Holiday! Stay safe! Happy Stitching!
Until we stalk again! Remember the Power of the Floss!
xoxo
~~Martha

Ronald McDonald is a STITCHER!!!!

2009-02-13T19:28:00.002-05:00

I have proof!!!

Last night was our EGA meeting and Ronald came by and stitched a bit with us! He likes Jocelyn Patterson designs and prefers using a thimble.
What fun!!

More later, just had to share!
Stay safe! Happy Stitching!!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

February all ready?

2009-02-02T20:20:00.001-05:00

Well, if we had a Punxsutawney Phil in Florida, he would have seen his shadow this morning and we would be in for another 6 weeks of this cold weather... I'm ready for continual mid 70's! I know I have nothing to complain about compared to the rest of the country, but I do not have enough warm clothes!

I helped Cathy at the Super Bowl Sale on Saturday. I think it was almost midnight by the time my feet, ankles and knees thawed out! Was such fun to shop for new stash and see all the other stitchers finding cool treasures. I'm sure the sale will keep 50-60 people out of the bars for a long time to come if they all stitch all they got! The best thing is Cathy will be able to bring back lots of new stuffs fo us to ooooohhhhhhhhhh and aaaahhhhhhhhhh over! Can't wait!

And... My dear Ruby said I owe her an appology for telling you all what a stupid thing she did. So I'm posting my public blog appology to dear Ruby. She said the very least I could of done was not to mention her name. She said I should have refered to her as "my friend who shall remain nameless". So, my friend who shall remain nameless, I'm sorry! My friend who shall remain nameless did get a new piece of lovely linen and is ready to start Forest of Trees again.

As promised, here a pictures! The first is my 5 peyote angel ornaments that I won at the EGA annual luncheon. I love these lovelies!

An individual shot

Progress photo on Family Reunion

I was having SSNES withdrawls. I think this is a Rosewood Manor year. Everyone in the family has a stitched stocking except for me. With any luck I will have this one this year!
Cranberry in Pines, started 2/1/2009.

That's it! Thanks for stopping by! Happy stitching! Stay safe!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

No stitching but some great cheap S.E.X.

2009-01-26T21:32:00.003-05:00

Wonder how many hits on the old blog counter that title will get me???

Yup, no stitching to speak of for me this week. No real good reason other than it was so bloomin' cold I couldn't keep warm and stitch! One morning when I left for work, the widows on the truck were covered with frost. I have no ice scraper. Worse yet, I have no gloves or mittens any more. I started the truck, turned on the defrost, came back inside, got a pair of socks out of the drawer, slugged back another cup of coffee, put the socks on my hands and off to work I went in a toasty warm truck. I do not miss the days of warming up the car, scraping windows and getting all bundled up to go outside at all. 1 or 2 days a year, I can deal with.

Great cheap S.E.X.?? My EGA Chapter held their annual luncheon on Saturday. This year they did a tea cup auction, a live auction and a silent auction. All stitchy related things. I don't have pictures so trust me.... I won the following:

From the tea cup auction:
A cool little project tote made by Yazzii
A box of misc dmc floss
Misc heart themed charts by Heart in Hand, Lizzie Kate, Elizabeth's Designs, Homespun Elegance
A cute red tote bag

From the silent auction:
A hand made blue fuzzy knit scarf (I needed that last week!) $8
Bent Creek Blue Bird Kit $4
New Shepherds Bush Baby Bug Ball (this has been on my want list for years!) $8
Silver Needle Secret Needle Night Peppermint Santa w/ the finishing kit! $3
Silver Needle Secret Needle Night Let It All Hang Out w/ the finishing kit! $3
And the best.... 5 peyote angle ornaments!! $40

a great lunch and lots of laughs with the ladies! All in all a wonderful way to spend a Saturday!

Yesterday was the laundry/housework day. One of those days when I feel like I did more damage than good. Don't ya just hate those kind of days? I'm obsessed when it comes to cleaning my tile. I vacuum, then I scrub brush scrub, then I mop clean, then I dry. Too much work! I only to the baths, kitchen and family room every week, the other rooms get the scrub/mop job "as needed". Sunday afternoon late, I had just finished the floors. Bruce was being a dear and was going to fix me a glass of Crystal Light Raspberry Lemonade. He took the pitcher from the fridge and lost his grip and it fell to the floor and EXPLODED all over the kitchen. All I could do was laugh. We got that all cleaned up and then an hour later, I was fixing supper. I had the spice cabinet open and in my haste I knocked a brand new jar of Emerill's seasoning out and it EXPLODED when it hit the floor! Egad! What a mess! Once that was cleaned up and dinner was over with we both sat back and said "I'm not touching anything for the rest of the night!" And we didn't!
I am concerned that Bruce is having problems hanging on to things lately. He is making a point to pick things up with both hands now.

So, there you have it. Great cheap S.E.X. and no stitching...
More later! Stay tuned! I promise pictures of something next time!
Happy stitching! Stay safe! Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo ~~Martha~~

More Family Reunion

2009-01-19T19:02:00.004-05:00

I just love Monday holidays! The down side is they go by way too fast! Last night at bedtime I reminded DH that today was a holiday and I did not have to get up so don't wake me up in the morning. I was up at 1am with the stomach/acid reflux crap. Back to sleep at 4am. I heard DH up and messing around at 6am, but fell back asleep. At 7am I heard a crash and glass shatter.... I tried to ignore it... thinking I could fall back asleep... until he turned on the vacuum cleaner.... My first words to him as I stood in the kitchen door way with my hands on my hips were: "What part of don't wake me up did you not understand?"..... He laughed! Oh well, at least he cleaned up the mess and did a good job too! He got his coffee cup out of the cabinet and lost his grip. Ceramic tile floors are not kind to anything that gets dropped on them. Then it was off to the Imaging Center for a 6 month followup on my mammogram. All clear for another 6 months. Thank goodness! I ran into Dillard's. Lots of good sales, but I need a couple of conservative business suites. No luck. The ones that I liked were all size 4. Or purple. Or pink. I stopped at the Scrapbook Store. Lots of cool stuff there and the ladies were so nice. I am NOT going to start another hobby! Met DH for lunch. Went to Habitat and did the paperwork and left the deposit for Camp Stitch A Way~~Part 2! Back home, putzed around in my closet for a while. Looked at the dust on the dinning room table. Resisted the urge to write "Dust Me" on it. Walked away. Surfed the WWW. Before I knew it DH was home! Wow. The day went fast! I have yet to take a stitch.

Here is my progress for the week on Family Reunion. I did not stitch on anything else this week. Ruby came over Saturday morning at 9am. We were going to spend the day stitching. Made a "quick" run to Joann's. Back home in time for lunch. Stitched for a couple hours until she had to go home. I felt so bad for her. She is stitching Rosewood Manors A Forest Grew. She started this on New Years. The first of the week she knocked her Diet Cherry Dr. Pepper over and soaked her piece. She worked and worked to get it clean. She took it out to show me her progress first thing Saturday morning...

She had started in the top left of the chart, but had turned her fabric a quarter turn... We discussed options. First thought was to rip all that stitching out. Voted that down. She decided to square off what she has stitched, frame that, get another cut of fabric and start all over. Ugh. Better to discover it now and not when she ran out of fabric! Poor Ruby!

Hope all your starts are in the right place! Happy stitching! Thanks for stopping by and all your kind words! I love visitors!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Sunday Summary

2009-01-12T20:56:00.003-05:00

A day late...
I have to admit I felt a tad bit lost not starting something new yesterday! Here is my progress on Family Tree. I'm loving stitching on this. Each little motif/frame is like a mini finish! The chart is divided into 12 sections and so far I am finished with 2 sections. I'm going to wait to place the initials/verses until I am done. I did put Ruby's initials in the first completed frame to honor our 2009 New Year start.

Sorry for the bad photo. I didn't take the time to iron!

I also stitched a bit this week on the Quaker Friendship piece. This is a fun stitch too! Again, sorry for the lousy picture!

Bummed about the football game. Oh well, there is always next year.
Off to stitch for a bit and then off to la la land!
Happy stitching! Stay safe! Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Game night!

2009-01-08T19:14:00.003-05:00

GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRSSSSSSSSSS
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last in, first out!

2009-01-04T20:08:00.005-05:00

Last finish for 2008:

M Design Bluebird of Happiness JCS Ornament Issue 2008

First finish for 2009:

Mosey and Me Santa's Trimming JCS Ornament Issue 2004

My First 2009 Start:

Rosewood Manor Family Reunion
Started 01 01 2009

Round Robin Progress:

Quaker Friendship Lynda's piece.

Stitched these Christmas week:

Started and finished 01 03 2009:

Alaura's first Christmas Ornament. Yes, I'm a bit behind! I want to get all the Grandkids ornaments caught up this year.

I did nothing but cook and stitch this weekend! I loved every minute of it!
I'm dreading going back to work tomorrow. Not sure how I'm going to deal with working 5 full days a week!
Stay safe! Happy stitching! Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

SSNES Wrap Up

2009-01-04T20:00:00.001-05:00

I'm going to delete this from my sidebar:
07/03/2008 This Heart of Mine Ink Circles Blue combo ----COMPLETED
07/06/2008 Sea Horse Box from the Gift of Stitching
07/07/08 This Heart of Mine Ink Circles Orange combo COMPLETED 072808
07/13/2008 Love Ornament from Just Cross Stitch
07/20/2008 Road to Bethlehem Shepherd's Bush
07/27/2008 Love You by Hobb Nobb Designs COMPLETED 072708
08/03/2008 Multiplication Table by Carriage House Samplings
08/10/2008 Multiplication Table by Carriage House Samplings, Number 2 AND America Land That I Love-Kentucky
08/17/2008 America Land That I Love-Louisiana-sorry, distracted by Fay events today!
08/24/2008 Mosey N Me Santa Trimmings ---COMPLETED 01 02 09
08/31/2008 NATS Santa Slice & Susan Greening Davis Needle Nook
09/07/2008 In the Pocket Susan Greening Davis
09/14/2008 Summer Name Tag Susan Greening Davis
09/21/2008 Alaura's Christmas Ornament from 2008 JCS Ornament Issue Heartfelt Harvey COMPLETED
09/28/2008 Quaker Friendship Sampler, Samplers and Such
10/05/2008 Callie's Christmas Ornament from 2008 JCS Ornament Issue Heartfelt Harvey. COMPLETED
10/12/2008 Tassel for EGA Holiday Basket Raffel White & Green. COMPLETED
10/19/2008 Trey's Christmas Ornament from 2008 JCS Ornament Issue Heartfelt Harvey. COMPLETED
10/26/2008 Jordyn & Kegan's Christmas Ornament from 2008 JCS Ornament Issue Heartfelt Harvey 2 starts on the same day!! Both COMPLETED
11/02/2008 Kathy's Christmas Ornament from 2008 JCS Ornament Issue Heartfelt Harvey. COMPLETED
11/09/2008 RJ's Christmas Ornament from 2008 JCS Ornament Issue Heartfelt Harvey. COMPLETED
11/16/2008 Marissa's Christmas Ornament from 2008 JCS Ornament Issue Heartflet Harvey. COMPLETED
11/23/2008 EGA Ornament Exchange by Glory Bee, Blackwork Noel. COMPLETED
11/30/2008 Christmas Ornament from 2008 JCS Ornament for someone special-COMPLETED
12/07/2008 Christmas Ornament from 2008 JCS Last one!-COMPLETED
12/14/2008 Bluebird Ornament fro 2008 JCS ---COMPLETED 12 31 2008
12/21/2008 Reindeer by Daffycat ------ 6 COMPLETED 12 25 2008
12/28/2008 Susan Greening Davis Whitman Tin & Quaker Friendship Round Robin Lynda's Piece

Winding down in 2008

2008-12-30T19:49:00.004-05:00

Caution, lots of pictures!
Wow. It's hard to believe another year is over. I'm not one to make New Years resolutions. Just don't like putting that kind of pressure on myself, then disappointing myself because I didn't do what myself resolved to do.... I have rethought the whole Start Something New Every Sunday project. I'm done with that! Not that I didn't love love love starting something every week. I'm just having trouble keeping everything organized! I bet I now have 28 skeins of DMC 310 in 28 different places. Needless to say I'm spending more time looking for my supplies than I am enjoying them! My stitching goals this year are:
1. Finish a lot of the wonderful projects I started this year.
2. Finish Family Tree that I am starting 1/1/09.
3. Complete at least one Christmas ornament a month.
4. Stitch as much as possible.

That's pretty much it. It's my passion and my therapy.

At EGA, we had secret sisters. Here is a picture of the lovely Shepherds Bush Needle Roll I was given for my birthday. The stitching is perfect.

At the EGA Christmas Party we had an ornament exchange. This is the ornament that I received. It's perfectly stitched and finished by Barbara.

At the EGA Christmas party, our Secret Sister revealed themselves. I was blessed to have Melinda. She gifted me with this wonderful peyote ornament. The ladies all know how I love peyote work and do not have the skills to stitch my own!

Dear sweet Ruby stitches Christmas cards! She also stitched the gift tags attached to our gifts this year!

Ruby stitched gift cards too

And what was in the packages???
Mermaids treasure pillow

Christmas bread cloth

We spent Christmas day at our friends Pat & Richie. It was a perfect day! Their whole family treat us like family. It was a wonderful day.
Lots of cooks in the kitchen

Christmas dinner diners

What every well planned holiday dinner needs.... what the heck IS this???

Cheers Mommie!!

Please keep Mommie in your thoughts and prayers. She was rushed to ICU on Saturday. She loves to tell everyone that she is 19 but she is really 91!

And, let me introduce the newest member of the family. My baby brother is a Grandpa again. Here is little Emilio Jose, born 12/27 with his proud Grandpa who has been sending me photos daily since his birth. Duane is the father of 4 daughters and Grandpa of 3 granddaughters so to say he is tickled to death to have a grandson is an understatement! I'm guessing he has picked out Emilio's first Harley & helmet! Momma Crystal & baby are just perfect.

Until next year, Happy New Year! Stay safe! Happy stitching!! Thanks for stopping by.
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Twas the Sunday before Christmas and....

2008-12-21T20:01:00.002-05:00

This puppy is beat!
Spent Friday shopping. I hate to shop.... (unless it's the LNS or online). Friday night i made 6 eggs worth of egg noodles and simmered a couple of chickens for homemade chicken noodle soup. Saturday I chopped all the veggies for veggie soup and the chicken noodle soup. Made 36 quarts of veggie soup. 6 loaves of cranberry orange bread. Today I made 36 quarts of chicken noodle soup. Another 6 eggs worth of egg noodles. The freezer and fridge are full. The kitchen is almost put back together. My feet, ankles and legs are killing me. I still need to scrub my kitchen floor but I think it will wait till tomorrow evening. I'm giving gifts of food to my boss and friends this year. Not as much as I did last year, but I think they will all enjoy the Veggi soup, Chicken noodle soup, homemade dinner rolls and Cranberry Orange bread. I **might** make oreo cookie truffles or buckeyes Tuesday evening, but will wait and see what time I get home from work and what kind of mood I'm in then! I will ship the grandkids goodies out tomorrow along with my Quaker Friendship round robin.

I took a break this afternoon and stitched this freebie from Sharon/Daffycat. I don't have a photo as DH is using my camera. But it was a cute quick stitch! thanks Sharon! I see many more of these in my future!

I think I had a productive weekend. Nothing like waiting till the last minute!
Thanks for all the kinds words from my last post.
I wish you all a very merry Christmas Holiday. Bless you all!
Stay safe! Happy Stitching!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Promises....Promises....

2008-12-10T22:15:00.002-05:00

If anybody still ever stops by... I'm still here, just soooo far behind, I'm thinking I'm in first place right now. How can Christmas be just 2 weeks away?
Isn't Miss Callie just the cutest? {;^)

A finished finished ornament... Excuse the bottom of my counter....

Another finished finished ornament....

The rest are in various stages of finished finished on the table. Hope to have that mess done and cleaned up before the weekend is over....

I promised pictures with my next post, so here ya go. I'm still hitting the time clock at work for 12-15 hours a day 4 days a week (I do L*O*V*E having Fridays off, but not sure it's worth the other??). Finished up the last of my ornament stitching this Sunday. Yippee for me. I have been kitting up "starts" for January 1, 2009. Not sure how many hours I think there is going to be in that day! You should see my "start January 1 2009 stack"! Not a Christmas decoration up in my house this year. Not a card bought or addressed. I feel like such a Grinch!
Till next time, stay safe!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Still stitchin' for Christmas!

2008-11-23T21:00:00.002-05:00

Howdy.
SSNES update. Yes an ornament. But a different one! I have an ornament exchange at EGA next month so I stitched an old freebie chart for Glory Bee, Blackwork Noel. Stitched on natural linen with Sampler Thread Mulberry. Sorry, no picture. The stitching is complete, just have to put it together in a biscornu. I also started another Heartfelt Harvey....

Nothing new to yack about. My eyes are tired. I'm tired. I'm thankful it is only a 3 day work week this week! I promise pictures in the next post.

Happy week! Stay safe!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

I was tagged!

2008-11-15T21:25:00.002-05:00

By Sharon aka Daffycat (the picture on her blog header always makes me smile!).
6 Random Facts About Me

Rules are...

Link back to the person that tagged you.
Post the rules on your Blog.
Share 6 non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
Tag 6 people at the end of your post by linking to their Blog.
Let each person know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their Blog.

1. I like mustard on my hash browns. Plain ole French's mustard.

2. I'm addicted to Dr. Pepper, coffee, Crystal Light Raspberry Lemonade and Mojitos. Not necessarily in that order....

3. I can't stand to get into an unmade bed at night. Even if I decide to be lazy and not make the bed first thing in the morning, I will make it up only to pull the sheets right back down and crawl in.

4. I can't wait to get home from work each day and wash my face, shed the heels, nylons, suit, bra... and be a total slouch in my jammies. Even on the rare days I get home from work at 5pn. I love my jammies. Needless to say, I don't answer the door in the evenings either.

5. I prefer to eat chocolate cake from a bowl with ice cold milk poured over it.

6. I hate dust. It's beyond my why I bought dark furniture.

The rules say I'm to tag 6 other bloggers. I'm gonna be a party pooper and let those that want to play, play, jump in!

Now I'm sure y'all are convinced I am really strange!

Stay safe! Enjoy your Saturday evening!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

One more week....

2008-11-14T16:06:00.003-05:00

Till I'm no longer in my 40's!
Reality set in the other evening.

I stopped at the grocery store on my way home from work to pick up a few things. It was late. I was tired. I was more than a bit crabby (yes, you can insert the b word here and be 100% correct). I was in a hurry. I hear a voice behind me in one of the aisles.
"Ma'am.... excuse me ma'am".
I turned around to see an elderly man behind me. Sitting in one of those grocery scooter carts.
"Yes", I replied. A bit annoyed at the interruption to my quick shopping trip.
He said "I just have to tell you, you are a very attractive woman".
I was dumb founded and the irritation of the day immediately melted away.
"Oh, that's so nice to hear, thank you so much" I replied. I continued down the aisle, floating a bit off the ground.
Then reality set in....
Used to be young, good looking guys said I was hot.
Maturity. Over the hill.
Ugh.

Thank you all for your encouragement on the canvas piece.
Happy stitching. Stay safe and thanks for stopping by!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Fall in Florida

2008-11-09T19:06:00.002-05:00

Hi there! How are ya? What's going on? I'm just relaxing watching NASCAR.

Fall has arrived on the Florida Gulf Coast! I love this time of year! No A/C running. Windows open. Pulling up the comforter at night. 'Skeeters are gone. Sitting outside and stitching on a sunny afternoon. Ahhhh yes, this is the life...

My new favorite stitching area...

And what, pray tell, did I stitch this weekend??? Well.... I started my first piece on CANVAS! I have to say, although I'm not loving it, I'm not really hating it either! This is the teaching piece from my ANG group. I've been telling the ladies I was going to do all my ANG work on linen. Oh, yeah, that gets 'em going!

First try...

I have not a clue if what I did was right or wrong. I'm changing all the colors and the fibers. I could not see spending $100 for fibers for a piece I was not sure I would:
#1 -- Like
#2 -- Finish
So I am using what I have in my stash and sticking to my favorite Mermaid Shimmer color scheme.

Stay tuned!

My SSNES start today was another Heartfelt Harvey. This one for RJ. Next year, starting January, I'm stitching one Christmas ornament each month. (I'm pretty sure I said the same thing last year too!).

Work is still crazy. Not sure if it is good or bad. I realized last week that I have 9 vacation days to use or lose by the end of the year so for the rest of the year, I get to work my 60+ hours in 4 days and take every Friday off as a vacation day! Wish me luck...
Until next time, happy stitching!
Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

B+O+R+I+N+G....

2008-11-02T18:55:00.004-05:00

That's me! Nothing new and exciting here. I'm stitching Christmas Ornaments for my SSNES project. Only another half dozen or so to go! No new decent photos of those. I have been working 12+ hours each day, so the only stitching time I have is weekends and I would much rather clean floors, toilets and showers, cook, grocery shop, do laundry and sleep than I would stop to take pictures... yeah right....

Saw this while surfing the stitching newsletters that had accumulated in my in box the past several weeks. Think I will make it my new mantra:

Halloween night, Golden Needle had a special sale and Halloween party. I bought new stash! I came home with the Family Reunion chart and the linen to stitch it on (Platinum Cashel). Also, I'm not 100% sure I'm happy with my Quaker Friendship Sampler fabric choice, so I bought another piece of linen to stitch it on and another fiber option, Thread Gatherer Silk 'N Colors Acorn Woods. I'm debating now. I also purchased Something Wicked by La-D-Da. We got to draw a sucker for a special discount, I got a 10% discount and a special gift, a beaded scissor fob and counting pin by "Bead-utiful". It was a fun evening.

Sad news this week. My former employer and dear friend to both of us, Dr. LJ Jensen passed away on Thursday. Rest in peace Dr. J. You will be greatly missed.

Thanks for stopping by. I'm going back to my stitching!
Stay safe!

Drumroll.... and the winner is.....

2008-10-16T20:13:00.003-04:00

From the 2008 JCS Ornament issue, Heartfelt Harvey by Imaginating Inc. is the ornament I chose for the Grandkids this year.

And the blog winner is..... my best Kansas Stitching Blogging Friend...

http://purplewildcat.blogspot.com/

Sorry, I still can't figure out how to make those fancy links!
Her guess was Walt the Malt. I have to tell you, I did almost pick that one!

Kathy, after your absolutely wonderful weekend, send me an email with your mailing address & I'll stitch you your very own Heartfelt Harvey!

Thanks for stopping by. I'm off to prop my feet up, drink a bottle of wine (yes, it has been one of those weeks!) and figure out what I'm going to spend the weekend stitching (besides 3 more Harvey's!).
Stay safe!
Happy Stitching!
Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

10 12 2008 SNSES

2008-10-12T19:39:00.001-04:00

Tassel completed today for the Sea Grape EGA Holiday Basket Raffel project.

Last Weekend in Wichita

2008-10-12T19:38:00.002-04:00

Last weekend I got to spend time with my brothers, sister-in-laws, sister, brother-in-law, nieces, great nieces, nephews and great nephews. It was good to see everyone and be back "home". My brother Duane & I went back to the neighborhood where we grew up. Wow, we could not get over how small the house and yard were! We drove by our elementary school which is now used a administrative offices. We also had lunch with my best friend and her parents. What a hoot! There were never two girls who played more Barbie than Annette & I. I think we wore some Barbie dolls out! It was fun to catch up with her an her family after 20+ years. She still looks and sounds and acts the same! It was fun to hear the stories that she remembered and I forgot and that her parents remembered and we both forgot! I still can not get over how small our old house is and also how small the yard is. The big tree is gone, but we used to play tag and red rover with the entire neighborhood. I know the street isn't any wider!

Other hilights from the weekend pictured above:
Courtney went to her home coming dance.
Duane really wants another bike. Really bad.
Food. Always good food.
The pumpkin weighed 72 pounds! Aiden only 20!
That's one big aloe vera plant and one yellow truck!

Yesterday Bruce had a meeting bright and early in Ft Myers, so I invited myself to Ruby's for coffee and visiting yesterday morning. Was so good to see her and Bill. We had a nice relaxing time, looking at all the stash we have, want to have and have to do!

Work, needless to say, is still a bear. I'm home after 8pm and back at it by 7:30 am. I have not stitched at all during the week and have had little energy to do much on the weekend. Sorry no stitchy pictures for your viewing enjoyment. Keep your fingers crossed I'm more productive on the stitching front soon!

Thanks for stopping by. Stay safe & happy stitching!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

A contest!

2008-09-28T19:26:00.004-04:00

Hello friends and neighbors! Happy Sunday!
I have not kept track of my bloggerversary. I have not kept track of the number of posts I have made. Sorry I'm such a slacker! But, to make up for all that.... How about a little fun???
I stitched an ornament from the 2008 Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament issue last Sunday as my SSNES project. It is going to be the "mystery ornament". What I would like for you to do is leave a message on this post. Tell me what ornament you think I chose to stitch for my grandchildren this year. Please post by 10/15/08. I will draw the lucky winner on 10/16/08. The winner will receive the same ornament stitched and finished by me, that I have chosen to do for my wonderfully perfect grandchildren! On 10/16/08, I will also post a picture of the SSNES project from last week. Ahhhh... a mystery and fun and games.

Today, for my SSNES project, I started Quaker Friendship Sampler by Samplers and such. I'm stitching this on tan 28 count evenweave with black DMC. I love the black and tan color combo. I'm participating in a round robin with 4 other ladies that starts the first of the year. I'm looking forward to stitching with them in 2009!

The past couple of weeks, work has been a bear. I've been putting in 12 hour days and still can't keep up. I doubt things will change for a while. Yesterday, Ruby & I went to Golden Needle for a little R & R and some therapy! It was wonderful to get away but even better to spend time with Ruby! We have both fallen in love with this:

Rosewood Manor Family Reunion
We will start stitching this on Jan. 1 and this will be our BAP for the year. I have been worried about my SSNES commitment, but, it's my game, so I will start a new motif every Sunday on the Family Reunion project. OK by y'all??

Ruby and I also fell in love with this....

Rosewood Manor Season of Trees.
This may be the BAP for 2010!

And.... I have made a decision on my Neighborhood project from the Me, Myself & I Round Robin:

My "town Square" is going to be by The Work Basket, Bay Sampler. I'm also going to use the houses from Bright Needles Key West & Savannah Samplers. The fibers and the fabric are ready to go 12/31/08!

I'm wondering if I have bitten off more than I can chew for 2009?

Never!

I'm off to St Louis on Wednesday for 2 days of training. I'm flying from St Louis to Wichita Friday evening to spend the weekend with my Brothers, Sister-in-laws, Sister, brother-in-law, nieces and nephews! I can't wait. Not sure how much stitching I will get done, but will take a small piece. The ipod has plenty of audiobooks and movies to keep me entertained at the airport. I will fly home on Monday and back to a ton of work at work on Tuesday.

Happy stitching! Don't forget to leave me a message!
Stay safe!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Yippee! Happy Friday!!!

2008-09-19T23:33:00.004-04:00

I'm still here! I just have not had enough energy to get everything done for the past couple of weeks. I'm about ready to fall asleep now, so here for your viewing pleasure...

My 09/07/2008 SSNES Project "In the Pocket" Designer, Susan Greening Davis. This piece slides in a clear vinyl pocket on the outside of a cute yellow & white checked bag (which I gave as a gift 2 years ago & promised the pocket stitched...)

My 09/14/2008 SSNES Project "Summer Name Tag" Designer, Susan Greening Davis.
This has been a fun stitch. I'm not crazy about the flag button. I think a big silver star will work well!

On Sept 11, 2008, Punta Gorda brought 20 wounded Marines to town for 5 days of R & R. There was a motorcade thru downtown the afternoon of 9/11. They got a hero's welcome! It was so great to see the community come out in force and support these guys. On Saturday there was a thank you celebration ceremony at the city park. The Marines were given keys to the city and all the powers that be were there to thank them for their service. It was a great event. The "guys" were great. I hoped they enjoyed our community as much as we enjoyed having them!

Our city park is located on the Peace River. Is there not a more appropriate place for a celebration for wounded Iraq war Vets?

I missed my family reunion again this past Labor day. Here is a family picture, missing my brother Chuck, a few sister-in-laws a bunch of nieces & nephews & myself.

Back row left to right: My brother Jim, my brother Larry, my brother Duane, my brother-in-law Coe.
Front row left to right: My great nephew Logan (Jim's grandson), my niece Jamie (Jim's daughter, Logan's mom), my one and only sister Merlyn, my Sis-in-law Lisa (Duane) and my great niece Katie (Jim's granddaughter & Jamie's daughter).

And...Sept. 5 was our grandson Trey's 5 birthday. Here he is with his little brother Jordyn. Aren't they cute?!?!

I went to stitch night at Golden Needle this week and brought home the JCS Christmas Ornament. I've got most every page memorized and enought SSNES ideas to last several more months!

That's all for now. I'll have more to say later!
Thanks for checking on me!
Happy stitching!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Happy Labor Day!

2008-09-01T20:40:00.005-04:00

Warning, lots of pictures!
Thanks so much for all your well wishes regarding the tropical weather we have been watching. I'm praying for the safety of the people on the Gulf Coast. Tis the season... I'm ready for November!

SSNES project for 08/24/2008 Mosey N Me Santa's Trimmings from JCS Christmas Ornaments 2004

Stitching with DMC on 28 ct linen. I think this is going to be the ornament for the Grandkids this year. I'm having a hard time getting excited about it! I hope the new JCS Christmas Orney book has some awesome stuff!

SSNES project for 08/31/2008 2003 NATS Show Ornament, Slice of Santa

Stitching on 28 ct tan monocloth.
I thought I would try this and see if I liked it better than the one above!
I'm really not liking it any better! Can you say AADD??

SSNES project for 08/31/2008 Susan Greening Davis Needle Nook

Oh yeah! some bright colors! Stitching this on 28 count watercress Joelan with Needle Necessities 1931. will also use some DMC in the same colors as the NN. I am going to finish this off as a thread caddy.

Once a quarter, our EGA Chapter has an "Overnighter", but, since we are all so old and can't stay awake all night, it's officially a Midnighter. this Friday was the night. We met at Ronald McDonald house and enjoyed dinner together. Lots of yummy foods. then it was time for fun and games. We played my version of Stitchers Stash Bingo also known as Everybody wins Bingo. We all brought Dollar Store items for this. My gosh, you would have thought we all won gifts from Tiffany's! I was a bit concerned a couple of times that we might get evicted from RMcD for outrageous behavior! I was the Bingo caller, so, sorry, no pictures of bingo. Then it was time to play Floss Toss LRC. My goodness, those women love to gamble!

Midnighter Stitching LRC Gambler Patty and Julia

EGA Midnighters Stitching LRC Gamblers Virginia, Melissa & Deb

EGA Midnighters Stitching LRC Gamblers Linda and Melinda

Finally, at 9pm, I think, we all got down to some serious (??) stitching.
Midnighters finally stitching

EGA Midnighters Stitching. Linda & Barbara

Also this past week, was stitch night at Golden Needle. Several months ago I saw this new stitching lamp on one of the stitching websites and knew I had to have it. Kathy ordered for me and finally it arrived. I used it at the stitch in Friday night and absolutely love it! It uses 3 D cell batteries or electric. It is light weight and not a PITA to transport from site to site. I hate to admit it, but it's getting really hard for me to see to stitch if I don't have magnification and good lighting. the lamp is $100 and well worth every penny.
New lamp!

That's about all from the Florida Gulf Coast.
Stay safe!
Happy Stitching!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Whew

2008-08-19T06:40:00.003-04:00

Dodged a bullet here in Charlotte County. Tropical Storm Fay made landfall near Marco Island around 5am this morning. We have had light rain off and on all night. The wind is just now starting to blow, more gusty than sustained winds. Guess it would still be considered a mostly normal day in Kansas {;^)...

Wonder what time my phone will ring with the boss asking what time I will be in the office today??

Thanks so much for all your well wishes!

Off to drink my coffee. Listen to the wind and the rain. Stitch on Multiplication tables. Watch Good Morning America.

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

Calm before the storm?

2008-08-18T22:31:00.003-04:00

Here we sit. All tucked in. Hunkering down. Watching the Olympics. Checking the Weather Channel. Checking the local news channels. Closed the office up at 4:30 today. It's all storm shuttered in too. Ruby has to be getting rain and some wind now. She is only 20 minutes south of me. I'm sure Deborah (Lavender Rose) is getting wind and rain now too. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers. We all hope this is a non event event... Crossing fingers And toes. And legs. And arms.

On the stitching front, my SSNES update.... I started and finished America Land that I love-Louisiana. Sorry, no picture. I did take one, but it's so blurry I couldn't post it. I didn't get my act together yesterday to find and kit a new project. I'm home tomorrow, so maybe I can get some things gathered up to start in the next few weeks.

That's about all for now. Will update again, soon, I hope!
Stay safe.
Happy stitching!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Hot, Humid & a Tropical Storm....

2008-08-16T17:41:00.002-04:00

Meet Fay...

2pm Tuesday.... right smack dab on top of us.
Crawdoooooo.....
Batten down the hatches.
Oh, wait, the phrase is "hunker down".

More later!

Stay safe!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

2 x 2 squared?

2008-08-11T20:33:00.002-04:00

Time for the SSNES report!!!

This is my new start for the week. The SECOND Multiplication Table. Boring? Very. Twice as boring as the first one! I love my grandchildren. They better get straight A's in math.... I have found it's an easy stitch while watching all the Olympic coverage. Mindless.

To break up the routine, I thought I would do a square on the America Land That I Love BAP UFO. I stitched the square for Kentucky on Sunday morning. Quick. Now, if I just did 1 a week, I'd be finished by the end of the year.
No, no commitment here, i just said IF I did 1 a week.... I'm shooting on finishing it during the Olympics in 2024.... if not before!

And last but not least, this is the progress on Multiplication Table #1

Nothing new to yap about. The weekend was spent watching the Olympics. And NASCAR. And doing laundry. And cleaning floors. And toilets. And stitching.
It keeps me sane....

Have a wonderful week! Thanks for stopping by and saying hi!
Happy stitching!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

2 x 2 =

2008-08-04T21:19:00.005-04:00

Time for the weekly SSNES report!

My start for yesterday is from the Carriage House Samplings, Multiplication Table. I have to say I'm not loving this. Something about the colors? Maybe it's my math challenged mind? Some dark memory from my childhood? I struggled with multiplication and division in grade school. I remember my Dad cutting up his Kool cigarette cartons and making flash cards for multiplication and division. We would spend an hour every morning and an hour every evening going over flash cards. I plan to make 2 of these, one for each household of grandkiddos. I'm betting the second one will be bright fun colors! What do you think?

My not ever eating again lasted a whole whopping 12 hours. **Sigh**

Went to a pool party over the weekend. Wore my new suit. Had lots of good conversation. Lots of good food. Lots of good drink. Lots of pool volleyball. No energy on Sunday!

Also spent some wonderful time with Ruby on Saturday. We were quite the productive pair. We finished the finishing on our Whitman candy boxes. I forgot to take my camera so not group photo.

That's about the size of it. The boss is out of the office this week so I'm trying to get ahead of the game as well as complete some in house online training. Oh joy, what everyone wants to learn about: Life Insurance. Annuities. 403B's. New in house managed account options. It's hard to read and stay interested, focused and retain it all! I could not wait to get home tonight and stitch a little and give the old brain a rest!

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

The good. The bad. The ugly.

2008-08-01T22:08:00.002-04:00

1. The Good

I got to go out to eat last night.
So what? Yes, we do that a couple of times a week, but, last night it was free!
That's good!
It was good!
Our favorite local family restaurant, Elleana's. It's kind of like Cheers, you walk in and everyone knows your name. The wait staff all know that He wants ice tea and I want ice water with lemon. They know not to put His french fries on the same plate with his meal.
It was a great dinner. Salad. Chicken orzo soup. Flank steak with mushrooms. Green beans. Smashed taters with gravy. Scoop of ice cream for desert.
It was all free!!!

That's the good.

2. The Bad

2 words
Swimsuit shopping

3. The Ugly

I tried on 25 suits.
All a size bigger than the one I bought a year ago.
It's a conspiracy theory.
The rest of my clothes fit.
Mostly.
I think.

1b. The swimsuits and cover-ups were on sale! 30% off!
1c. See #1 above.
Used the $ saved when buying the suit and matching tent (coverup) to pay for a nice wonderful LAST dinner.

I'm never eating again.
Ever....

Ugh....

Happy weekend
Stay safe!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Happy Tuesday!

2008-07-29T21:12:00.006-04:00

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

2008-07-21T20:26:00.003-04:00

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!)

2008-07-14T21:02:00.005-04:00

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!!!

2008-07-07T19:51:00.004-04:00

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!

2008-07-05T20:39:00.002-04:00

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....

2008-07-04T11:19:00.004-04:00

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~~

The Blahs...

2008-06-29T18:16:00.003-04:00

!~!~!~!~! H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y U S A !~!~!~!~!

No stitchy updates, sorry! I guess I'm in a slump! Nothing is keeping my attention. Not sure why??? I'm having loads of fun surfing other blogs and seeing what everyone else is working on and trying to find "the piece". Wonder if I'm just in sticker shock over getting a price to get the last piece framed?? I'm reading Whispers of the Bayou by Mindy Starns Clark. Also working on tassels for the upcoming class at Golden Needle. I bought "Getting Started with Seed Beads" by Dustin Wedekind from Amazon this week. Great book! I'm seeing beads in a different light (Don't tell my EGA & ANG ladies that!).

I've been thinking how to describe Graham Crackers! Yes, they are a sweet biscuit, but not too sweet. They are great with chocolate frosting (used to used the left over cake frosting and spread it on a graham cracker and make a sandwich). Really, they look like a piece of cardboard but taste 10000 times better, especially with a piece of chocolate and a warmed marshmallow!

Thanks for stopping by!
Stay safe!
Happy stitching!!
~~Martha~~

Sweet.......

2008-06-24T20:15:00.001-04:00

Did you know you can make S'mores in the microwave?????

Sweet......

Happy Tuesday!
xoxo

~~Martha~~

It's a horrible disease....

2008-06-22T18:17:00.005-04:00

Finished CdC..... started 2 new projects to replace it.... bought at least 3 more to fill the void..... Have not touched the things that were in my non existent rotation with CdC. They Came from Afar (I'm not in the mood to stitch on black right now). Pretty Pumpkins (I think I want to do these on a different fabric now). Thanks Eleanor, for asking me how many projects I actually have started.... you REALLY don't want to know that answer...

Thanks for all you wonderful & kind comments on CdC. I love looking at if. Sadly, it's going to be a while before it's framed. Eleanor and I took a road trip last Saturday. Stopped at Golden Needle for some stashing.... A few things followed me home.... On to the frame shop with CdC in hand. Nothing there really grabbed me and nothing made me say "Oh my gosh, I love it".... the closest thing was a "that's pretty good"... and when she told me it was going to be $365 for "pretty good", I told her I'd have to think about it... No mats. Nice frame. Glass. $365???? I'll keep my eyes open as well as trying a couple other shops. Eleanor and I also stopped at Needlepoint Ivy, a cross stitch shop in Venice FL. A few things found their way home with us as well.

New stash...

From Simple Stitches "Unto Us"
From JBW Designs "Memories of Home". Reminds me of my little brother and the house we grew up in in Wichita Kansas. The sampler reads... I remember The House where I was born, The little window where the sun comes peeping in at morn..
And... my first Little House Needleworks chart. Reading Writing Stitching. I think this will make a wonderful piece to stitch Sept. 3, National Stitch in Public Day. I'm taking the day off and doing a local road trip to the mall, the libraries, the book stores and sitting and stitching. Want to join me???

What have I been stitching on?
Gone.... by Michelle Ink Needlework Designs

Seems fitting for my life at work right now... The fibers in this piece are amazing! The Gloriana silk is so soft and silky! This is my first stitch on Lakeside Linen. I'm a 28 count girl, but loving this 32 count Bittersweet. The glow in the dark pink from Keinik and the flamingo floss from Weeks are on order at the LNS.
Here is my progress this weekend...

Also started....
How do I Love Thee by Designs By Lisa

Stitched on 28 count natural linen with 2 strands of Needle Necessities 1531
See my toes???? Sorry about that!

Another finish
My First Sewing Box and Scissor Fob ty The Stitching Parlor

Sorry it's not pressed. I need to mount this in the Whitman Sampler Box.
But.... Golden Needle had our monthly stitch night on Wednesday and she had pink Whitman Sampler Boxes and yummy pink linen to match..... soooooooo......

That's about the extent of my excitement. I'm teaching a tassel class at Golden Needle in July. Contact Cathy at cathy@goldeneedle.com to sign up. It will be tons of fun I promise!!! I've been playing with pearl cotton this weekend putting together different combinations for demo tassels and future tassels and practice/step models. I put together 3 while hubby and I watched "The Bucket List" yesterday. Great movie!!

My thoughts and prayers are with all the folks dealing the the various weather disasters in the world today. It's so sad to see all the damage and sorrow on the news.
Stay safe.
Happy stitching!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Cirque des Cercles Finished!

2008-06-08T20:02:00.005-04:00

Taaa---Daaaaah!

Finished 06/04/2008

Today was Steamy Sunday Stitching. We had a great time. I actually stitched! Here is Louise showing off some fibers that Julie will be stitching with soon!

Julie, Sarah, Gigi and Edith check out Julies project...

Julia, Patty, Malinda, Carolyn & Charlotte taking a break!

Our menu today was our favorite... baked tater bar! Taters, chili, sour cream, bacon, cheesy broccoli, cheese, onions, yummy curry chicken mushroom sauce... and for desert, Sweet Charlotte made "Not Your Mama's Banana Puddin" Oh my gosh... I got the recipe!

2 packages Chessman cookies
6-8 bananas, sliced
1 box (5.1 oz) instant vanilla pudding
2 cups milk

1 8 oz cream cheese
1 14 oz eagle brand sweetened condensed milk
1 12 oz cool whip

Line 9x12 pan with 1 box of the cookies.
Add sliced bananas.

In one bowl mix pudding and milk.

In another large bowl mix cream cheese & eagle brand. Fold in cool whip. Add pudding and gently mix till smooth.

Pour over bananas. Top with the rest of the cookies.
Chill.
Eat.
Yum!

I always enjoy my time with friends. I always learn something. I could care less if I get a stitch in while they are here (which is the standing joke...when do I stitch??). It's just so much fun to listen to the chatter and the laughter! Thanks ladies! You always make me smile!!

We finally got some much needed rain here today. The following picture is from 7/15/2005. I ran across it whiles I was trying to figure out where I saved the above photos. This was my first water spout. I tell you, when I looked out the window and saw this thing, it scared the baageebees and then some out of me! At the time of the picture, it was only 3 blocks away from us. Not knowing what to expect and growing up in the heart of tornado alley and living in a house without a basement... we jumped in our cars and headed away from it. It dissipated when it came off the water, but did destroy a small storage shed.

Happy weekend end... Enjoy your week!
Stitch lots!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Welcome to Hurricane Season 2008

2008-06-01T19:24:00.002-04:00

June 1, 2008, the first day of the 2008 hurricane season and all ready one named storm. Arthur.

Lets hope it is the one and only.

We have a plan.... we are going to drop the storm panels on the back of the house. Put the panel on the front door. Put the cars in the garage (which means putting all the stuff in the garage in the house...YUCK!! LOL) and stay here. We figure its safer than fighting with all the other yawhoos out on the road and trying to get any where...

No update picture of Cdc today. I have been working on it and have a little more than half of the last circle half to complete. If this week goes well, I should finish it by next weekend.

I'm in search of a new coffee bean grinder. Several years ago I bought the Cuisinart Burr Coffee Grinder. On the expensive side. Worked well. Was very noisy. Made a mess every time I used it, but all in all it worked well. 3 months ago, it just stopped working. I could not find another one in any of the local stores, so I settled for the Black and Decker grinder. Brought it home, put the box out in the recycle the same day. Tried to use the grinder several days later. The thing wouldn't grind a thing! No box. No receipt. Out to the trash. Spent several weeks buying all ready ground coffee. It doesn't taste as good. Went to Wally World 2 weeks ago. Got the GE coffee grinder. Worked like a charm last weekend. Doesn't grind a big batch, but its fast and not horribly loud. Went to grind my coffee for the week this morning. Nothing. It makes noise. It doesn't grind. I saved the box & the receipt this time. Any suggestions for a grinder that will last oh, 2 or 3 years????

Made a trip to Books A Million yesterday. Brought home the following:

Eleven on top, Janet Evanovich
The Shack, William P Young
Whispers of the Bayou, Mindy Starns Clark
Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen
I know this much is true, Wally Lamb

Off to work on CdC!

Have a great week!!!!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Happy Memorial Day

2008-05-26T19:17:00.003-04:00

Why start off a Memorial Day update with a photo of half an old water pump? This ole water pump is at the cemetary where my parents, fathers parents and their parents are buried. When we were kids, we always celebrated Memorial Day, aka Decoratin Day, at the small cemetary out in the country. We would cut flowers from home and head out early for the cemetary. Decorate the graves, usually would see other live relatives at the cemetary as well! My little brother and I would take turns pumping water from this pump and run all over the cemetary to water all the flowers others had left. My brothers, Duane, Jim & Chuck went out today to decoare the family graves & Duane sent me a few photos. I was saddened to see that the pump is not working any longer, but, glad to see it's still there.

Stitching updates!

This is the project from Camp Stitch ~~A~~ Way. I finished this week. I love sea horses and I love this, designed especailly for camp by my dear friend Marleen. It was a fun stitch. The piece was designed to be finished as a project minder. As soon as I get the courage to put the gromet in, it will be done!

The back side to the Camp piece.

I'm sad that the holiday weekend is over. Bruce & I were going to make a road trip this weekend and see some parts of the state we have yet to experience. I have not been to Lake "O" yet.... He has not been to St Augustine. As the weekend got closer and the gas prices kept rising and the fire continued to burn at Lake O... we decided to enjoy our time at home. Saturday we did yard work, ran the power washer and cleaned the pool. Sunday was "recover from Saturday day" (the heat and humidity and the fact that we are not 20 anymore really got the best of us!) and this morning I did all the house work. All in all it was a great weekend. We spent time in the pool each day, didn't use more than a gallon of gas running to the grocery store and neither of us is ready to go back to work tomorrow. Dummy me, I scheduled fasting bloodwork for 7a.m. tomorrow, so I'm not allowed to eat or drink for the rest of the night. I'm not a snacker and it's only 45 minutes past the "cut off" time and I'm craving chips, m & m's, carrots, pop, coffee..... I better get my hands busy stitching!

Here is the latest CdC update. I'm almost done! I'm excited and sad at the same time! I have really really loved stitching on this!

Callie 6/1/2005

Callie is almost 3!

Happy birthday Callie! You are the cat's meow!

Stay safe!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Finally rested up, I think!

2008-05-18T20:40:00.003-04:00

Camp was a blast! It was so much fun to spend the weekend with the ladies and stitch and laugh and laugh and eat and stitch and talk and eat and shop! Not much sleeping....
The photos in the post below:

1. King Tut, peyote beading project completed by Dr. Patty. He was the only guy at camp....

2. Linda,shopping at the stash swap table

3. Ruby and Carol Ann sharing a laugh!

4. Ruby and Dr. Patty with Tut...

5. Linda, Michelle, Sharon, Eileen stitching away.

6. Mary Jane & Carol Ann stitching

7. Miriam, Carolyn, Eleanor & Malinda working on a beading bracelet.

8. Nicole, Miriam, Mary Jane, Julie, Mary Lou playing a game of LCR for floss!

9. Jean, Eleanor, Marleen, Linda and others stitching!

10. Chow time!!

It was a great weekend. The ladies were a joy. The local shops that supported us, Golden Needle, Quilts 'n More and The Bead Room were awesome. The projects that were worked on (and that some completed!) were beautiful. The facility was perfect. As a whole, we were able to make a contribution to Habitat in excess of $1200!!!! I can't wait to do it again!

New news

My finish for the week. Lizzy Kate "Home is where Our Story Begins". This is the current give back to the community project from Golden Needle. Stitched with DMC floss on Rustico fabric. These will be presented to the local Habitat New Home owners. Quick stitch and I love the sentiment!

Yesterday I took a beading class from Amy Loh-Kupser and made this beautiful bracelet. I'm not a beading fan, but she was a great teach and had TONS of patience with me! Not so sure she truly appreciated my sense of humor when I asked Malinda why she didn't just glue the beads to the wooden needle holder instead of peyote - ing them..... Amy has some beautiful things. Check out her website at i-bead.com
I'm in love with her seahorse amulet bag, just not sure I have the patience to try peyote again after flunking out earlier this year on the bracelet I posted a photo of here on Oct 28.....

Same bracelet being modeled by Miss Rippit....who, by the way, was a great camp guess. She spend a lot of time with the different ladies as the did the reverse stitch....

The mail this week included a graduation announcement for my great niece Emily. Isn't she beautiful??? Looks like her mom & her dad! Sure does make me feel old when the great niece's are graduating from high school.... Congratulations Emily & best wishes.... make sure to save Auntie M back stage passes when you make the big time!

Not much else new. We are trying to enjoy the ACM awards tonight but Comcast seems to think we don't want to watch them, the picture and the sound keeps cutting out.... We still need rain. Work is still work. This week is stitch night at Golden Needle on Wednesday and EGA dinner meeting on Thursday. I'm currently stitching on the commemorative project Marleen designed for camp (I love it!!!). Hope to have a picture to post next weekend.

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

Camp brief

2008-05-11T21:00:00.005-04:00

Wow oh wow oh wow! I'm whipped so tired I doubt I will sleep tonight either! Camp was a blast. I think I made 25 stitches..... but I had such a good time with the girls! Here are a few photos to share and details to follow when my fingers type what my brain is really thinking!

I'll add details to the photos soon, but, if you are inclined, how about making up your own words to the story??? Looking forward to your comments!
Oh, and dear Nicole has awesome photos over on her blog. See the link on my sidebar.

Happy stitching!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Tassel, tassel....who has the tassel???

2008-04-29T19:51:00.003-04:00

No stitching, again. I must be in a slump! In the past 2 weeks, I have added a few stitches to CdC, but not enough to take a picture. I did make a new tassel for new stash....I love tins and boxes and chocolate, so after a trip to the Golden Needle on Saturday, this jewel followed me home...

One of our fine feathered friends...

My newest hibiscus plant. The bloom last night was huge! Too bad they only last a day or so!

Other than that, nothing new down here on the hot, dry Florida gulf coast. Just been working on camp stuff, work stuff, house stuff... just stuff! I'm very excited about camp!
Till next time... Happy stitching!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

No stitching just venting!!

2008-04-20T21:16:00.004-04:00

Sorry, no updated pictures of this weeks stitching! I did stitch a bit at Golden Needles Stitch night Wednesday evening, but not enough to show any progress on CdC!

Hip hip hooray.... tax season is over! Geesh... I really love my clients and love my job, but.... some times people can be so....so....mean and rude and don't think before they speak.... Last Friday afternoon a client called the office and started screaming at me the minute I answered the phone...
She: YOU SOLD ALL MY STOCKS AND BECAUSE OF YOU I HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER $20000 IN INCOME TAXES....

Me: I'm sorry, but, first, (as I check the account notes and the account activity and the 1099 for the account for 2007)... I did not sell all your stocks, I'm not licensed to do that. You met with your Financial Advisor on x day in February and you and your financial advisor determined you should sell all your stocks..... And, let me look at your 1099, oh yes, I see you sold stocks and had a gain, meaning you sold your stocks for more than you paid for them. Excuse me again, but don't you want to sell your stocks when you have a gain, meaning you made money on your stocks??? Lets take a look at something else real quick. You sold your stocks on x date and the net to you was $120000. Now, if you would have held those same stocks and, lets say, sold them yesterday, now you would have had a net of $85000. Does that help??

SHE: ohhhhhh..... I understand.

No appology.... no thank you.... no kiss my ass.... no have a good day.

Tax season story number 2:
Monday, April 14, time 4:30 p.m.
Office door opens, in walks Mr. Client. We exchange greetings. Then he says to me...
He: I ALWAYS take all my tax information to my CPA in February, but, because I was in London and didn't return until this past Friday, I don't have the heart to take all this in and dump it on his desk today, so I was hoping you could help me understand my 1099's??
Me: Oh, let me get this straight, you don't have the heart to do this to your CPA??? What does that make me, chopped liver????
Hahahahahahaha......... I spent the next day helping him concur turbo tax.

So all that said and done, tax season 2007! is over! Yippee skippee!!! Oh, and I finished my Canadian return this morning.

The online Needlework show.... I went... I ordered:

Carriage House Samplings
Adam & Eve

Designs by Lisa
How do I Love Thee

Northern Pine Designs
Chocolate Humbug Bag

Sue Hillis Designs, Inc.
Pirate's Creed

And I wasn't going to order a thing!

A beautiful weekend on the Florida Gulf Coast. No humidity,sunshine and a sea breeze. Last night we drove home over the Skyway Bridge in St. Petersburg Florida. The bay was calm, the sky clear and the moon full and bright. It was picture perfect beautiful and the camera was in the trunk....

Until next time.... happy stitching!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

SSS ladies, Cake, Spinach Balls and CAMP!

2008-04-13T19:50:00.003-04:00

Look at Sarah, Edith & Julia, looking scared of the camera!

Ruby, Doc Patty are happy as sweet Charlotte stitches away!

Louise, Malinda and Nicole stitch a way....
Nicole has some awesome photos of what everybody was working on over at her blog--see sidebar for link!

Sweet Charlotte made this awesome chocolate cake...

Wanna try one of the spinach balls??

Camp??
Here are the details. I have a few spots left, so if you can come, please email me at miokka@yahoo.com
We are going to have a wonderful time:

Camp Stitch ~~ A ~~ Way

Friday, may 9, 2008
4:00 p.m. until Sunday, May 11, 2008 @ Noon
Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Center
Port Charlotte, Florida
Camp Fees: $100.00

How about a weekend of nothing but.....
Hanging out with the girls.....
Eating.....
Shopping.....
Sharing....
Caring.....
Eating....
Sleeping (or not!)....
Playing.....
Eating....
Movies....
Snacking....
and
STITCHING??????????????

What you need to bring:
~Your bed linens for a twin size BUNK BED (including your own pillow)!
~Bath towels/washcloth
~Personal care items

~Your favorite snack food for sharing

~Your favorite movie (on dvd)

~Your stitching, your stitching tools, lights, magnifiers, extension cords

$$$$ for...
shopping at
~~ The Golden Needle
~~ The Bead Room
~~ Quilts n' More
~~The Town Center Mall

~Items for the Swap Table
old magazines, old charts, excess fibers, beads, kits..... the sky is the limit. Clean out your excess STASH!!! Make room for more!!!

~Items for the Show and Tell Table
Your chance to brag a little!!! A great opportunity to share and encourage others!

~A good attitude and the desire to relax and enjoy!

Your Camp Stitch ~~ A ~~ Way staff will provide:
Coffee/Tea/Water for the weekend
Dinner Friday night
Breakfast Saturday morning
Lunch Saturday
Dinner Saturday
Brunch Sunday
Directions to the shopping venue's listed above
Fun & games
A special treat to commemorate the weekend~~Wait till you see this! I love it!!
A sharing, caring, relaxing environment

SPACE IS LIMITED!!!!!!!!! Camp fee of $100 is due by April 20 (please, so we can buy groceries & plan & prepare accordingly!). Email me for mailing address...

The camp fee will go to groceries for the weekend and to Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity.

Yes, you can invite your sister, mother, daughter, best girl friend, but remember... space is limited!! Due to the layout for the Center, we must limit this event to Women Only, please understand....

Remember..... Bras & makeup are optional!! {;^)
The desire to have a wonderful, relaxing, sharing, caring experience is not....

XOXO
~~Martha~~

Yippee for me!

2008-04-05T21:11:00.002-04:00

US Fed income taxes are done~~~~e-filed & I get a refund!!! Whew... Turbo Tax is awesome.

That horrible sick feeling in the pit of my stomach is GONE!

Now, I have 24 days to figure out & file my Canadian return. Something new.

I'll worry about that in a couple weeks....

Off to make spinach balls for the SSS ladies!

I'm a happy camper... I get to stitch tomorrow!

No Stitchin', friends, pets, green pools, the end of snowbird season, Easter and 40 years!

2008-03-31T20:35:00.012-04:00

Whew! It's been a busy couple of weeks at our house. No stitching to show, but stick around, I'll get back on it, once I finish the tax returns.... gotta buy Turbo Tax first....

News! I'm now a "pets" owner! Hahaha.... I have been wanting a dog. Maybe a Schnauzer? Maybe a Yorkie? Maybe a Pointer? Maybe another English Setter or how about a Chocolate Lab???? Every week my wants changed but the one thing that remained constant was: We just do not have the time to take care of a pet. It's not fair to adopt a new family member only for us to both be gone from home for 10+ hours a day. So...... a dinner trip to Cracker Barrel Friday night and look what I brought home with me:

My Schnauzer, Baxter and Miss Rippit, the Tree Frog. Both officially adopted at www.webkinz.com. I picked up Baxter first, then found the tree frog & knew she had to come home with me. I also picked up a lovey for my secret sister at ABWA! Such fun. No mess, no shedding and I can take them to work and stitching with me!

I checked the pool Saturday morning. Ick! It was green!! One of the downfalls of keeping the solar cover on and having a couple days of heavy rain... A trip to the supply store for more chlorine and shock and algacide.... That's what happens when you ignore it for a couple of weeks. Looking good now, but I'm sure the chlorine level is strong enough to eat the suite right off your body...

Saturday morning I drove down to Coconut Point Mall south of Ft Myers and met up with Deb (Lavender Rose) and a fellow blogger, Lynn (Kearnel's Corner)that Deb has been stalking, I mean discovered, for a light lunch and some heavy visiting. What a fun time. We had lots of visiting and lots of laughing and we all brought stitching projects to share and oohhh and aahhhh over. There was never a lul in the conversation or the laughter! I stole this pictures from Deb's blog. {;^)

I'm the quiet one....Do you believe that??

The time went way too fast with Deb & Lynn. It was a fast drive back home, picked up Bruce & off to Englewood Beach to meet some friends for dinner in Venice at my most favorite place, Luna's! Lots of fun visiting and saying goodbye as they will be heading up north in a few days. Home late, quick house clean, up early Sunday morning to put a roast on & prepare for 11am guests from Ft Myers. Had a wonderful visit with Dr Jensen & Ardath. They are heading back north tomorrow. Again the day went too fast!

Easter was wonderful. We missed not spending it with our family, but sure enjoyed our Florida Family! Ate too much! Drank too much too....
RJ entertained us with his spoons again:

V

His Grandma couldn't be out done...!

Happy 40th anniversary to my brother & sis-in-law, Chuck & Cheryl! I'll miss your celebration, but will be there in spirit! Keep you in my thoughts and prayers! Love you guys!

This Sunday is Steamy Sunday Stitching! I'm looking forward to it! I need some time with my stitchy friends! Our food theme this month is Favorite Family Reunion Food! I'll take pictures!

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

Photos

2008-03-22T12:55:00.003-04:00

My daughter Marla, her boyfriend Rob, his son Kegan & Marla's daughter Callie.

Callie & Kegan with Ponce de Leon

A day at the beach!

Kegan relaxing on vacation!

Callie all dressed up and ready to go!

My girlfriends came by to see the kids, Suzanna, Patti & Callie swapping stories!

Gramma, Grampa, Kegan & Callie

I have a finish! This is a design from Susan Greening Davis. A cute little pouch to carry all my stitching tools from place to place.

CdC progress. Almost done!

Happy Easter!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Can we slow things down a bit??

2008-03-16T21:02:00.004-04:00

Seems like forever since I had the opportunity to post. All good reasons. We had our Friend Fawn from Michigan here for a short visit. It's always good to have her and she never stays as long as either of us would like. We visit and eat and visit and eat. We did make a trip to the local antique mall in town. This was the first time I had been in the restored train depot that now serves as our antique mall. The Historic Society did a wonderful job restoring this building. I spent a whopping $9 and purchased 3 pins I can wear on my business suits. Lots of sparkle and an easy way to update that basic black suite that I get soooo bored with!

Then.... Marla, Callie, Rob & Kegan came for a week. What a great time. I had missed my daughter so much! It's been a year! I was also very worried that Callie would not have any thing to do with me for the first couple of days. Not to worry, I was out the door the minute they pulled in the drive way and I could hear Callie giggling and calling for Gramma the minute I cleared the garage! She was out of that car and in my arms and was as excited as I was to see her. She was Grammas girl all week. Rob, the boyfriend was fun and polite and enjoyable.... all the things you hope for. His son Kegan is a great kid too. We sooooo enjoyed our visit. The time went way too fast. We spent one day at the beach. Marla, Rob & Kegan went to Busch Gardens for a day. Callie and I had the whole day alone together. We visited my office and with some friends, went shopping, took a nap, colored, played in the pool and played house (I was the doctor because her baby was sick & she used folded up washcloths as phones). I wish they were still here!

I have been slammed at work with tax season. I did enjoy the week off but have paid for it since with 10-11 hour days. Oh well.... I'm hoping HGTV is around the corner from my house Right now & I win that dream home in the Keys.... Dream on!

As for stitching, I have been working on CDC. The outside circles are all complete. Updated pictures of that soon!

Tomorrow is Bruce's birthday. I have a card, but no gift. Sigh.... guess I will be shopping during lunch tomorrow....

I spent today hooking up a wireless router and updating my laptop, installing a new security suite and figuring out the whole wireless thing. I'm proud to say I was successful! Our main computer bit the dust last weekend, spent 2 days at the computer hospital getting cleaned up and "speeded" up. Bruce has been working day and night to get caught up on his work too. Soooo all that being said, now I have no excuse to not update you on a regular basis. Sorry!

Crap, the HGTV lady has on gloves and a coat. I doubt she is around the corner from my house....

Callie was such a brave girl with the pool this year. We could not keep her out. Last year she would not have a thing to do with the pool (we blame in on the fact that 2 minutes after she got in last year, Grampa did a cannonball...)

Edited: The video did not upload either... sorry!

There is snow on the ground where the HGTV lady is...

I had photos all ready to upload and blogger failed. Will try again tomorrow.

Bedtime. I have to go to work tomorrow because the HGTV lady did not come to my house.... I owe....I owe...

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!
Stay safe!
~~Martha~~

Happy President's Day!

2008-02-18T11:11:00.003-05:00

Nothing could be finer than a 3 day weekend!
I have been stitching away on CDC. Here is the latest progress shot.

I am so in love with this piece! It's amazing to see the colors together. I am trying to figure out how to paint my bedroom ths color..... of course I am having a hard time convincing DH that any color, other than off white, is an acceptable color for interior walls....

Happy Valentine's Day from DH, my favorite smell, fresh lavender. I love this right in the kitchen window where I can touch and smell when I'm done with those horrible dishes!

And my gift to DH, his favorite, Hydrangea. We hope to be successful and plant this in the yard. I'm not sure it will survive, but we will enjoy it in the house as long as the blooms last.

Please take a minute and visit this webiste, watch the video, and, if you have a few extra coins in your pocket, donate to help the cause, March of Dimes. I have known Jamie since she was a young teen, she & my daughter are good friends. I have been keeping track of Miss Miracle Mollie's progress for most of the past year. I'm so proud of Jamie, and her strength and faith. She is a great mommie!

www.marchforbabies.org/JamieSamuels

Well, in honor of President's Day, I'm off to buy new tires for my car. I have a 1pm appointment, my ipod and my latest read "The Russian Concubine" (thanks Deb!!) which I am really enjoying. My reward when I leave the tire shop will be a stop at the Golden Needle to see all the new items from Market and to pick up more Mermaid Shimmer for CDC.

It's a beautiful spring day on the Florida Gulf coast. High today is 82F. Rain expected later today. Come visit!
Enjoy your day! Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

A free weekend!

2008-02-10T20:54:00.000-05:00

We were supposed to have company this weekend, so we spent every evening doing our usual weekend chores. We found out Friday afternoon that our friend was still in Michigan, thanks to another foot of snow! We were bummed that we didn't have company but excited that we had 2 whole days to do what ever we wanted. The result??? DH watched everything Daytona 500 & I stitched!!!
Progress picture on CDC:

Happy Valentine's Day finish. Smooches! A free pattern from several years ago.

Stitched 2 Kissing Pillows for a friend who departs for his second tour of duty in Kuwait...

Last weekend I got to help out at the Golden Needle annual Super Bowl Sale! I'm the official fiber fondeler! I can not wait to see what Cathy brings back from Nashville.

And something old to share. This is an older finish. I fell in love with this piece when I first saw it in the BHG magazine in the 90's. I lost my issue. Years later I was gifted with a box of old cross stitch magazines when my friend gave up stitching. I was so excited to find "the" issue in that box! My friend, Liz, lost her battle with cancer last month. I always think of her when I look at this piece!

I wish I could turn the clock back to Friday at 5pm! How come the weekends go twice as fast as 2 days of work??? I'm not ready to go back to the office tomorrow....tax time sucks... The good thing is it's one day closer to March 1 when my daughter & granddaughter arrive for a weeks visit! I can not wait!!! I get to be Mom & Gramma for 7 whole days! Cook for them. Do their laundry. Go shopping. Go to the beach. Kiss them good night. Kiss them good morning. See the light in their eyes. Hold them. I can not wait!!! Come on Monday!!!

I'm off to stitch for another hour~
Stay safe!
Happy Valentine's Day!
Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Good intentions....

2008-01-21T14:08:00.000-05:00

I have the day and the house and the computer to my self today! Here is a quick update!
From Sunday Stitching, Julia & Patty discussing their next project!!

Serious stitchers stitching....

My first Finish of 2008

My start on Pretty Pumpkins..... remember my stitching goals? To finish more than I start? Well, I'm behind!

My second start of the year.... They Came from Afar. This is fun to work on, I love watching the Kings robe come to life!

An update on CDC... I am having the BEST time stitching on this piece!

Our Sea Grape Chapter of EGA had their annual luncheon this past Saturday. Here is a picture of some of the Luncheon-ers!

Dallas Cowboys Christmas ornament

Not much new going on with me.... Work is work.... Too busy. My Christmas decor is ALL still up.... company is coming to visit the first of Feb. At this stage of the game, I'm wondering just HOW long I can get away with leaving it all up??? If I never took it down, look how far ahead of the game I would be come next Christmas! Guess I had best get busy and bring the boxes in from the garage.
I'd much rather go stitchin'.... or take a nap....
Stay safe!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Happy New Year!!

2008-01-01T20:13:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year! I wish you all a safe, healthy and prosperous 2008!

I'm not one to make New Years Resolutions. I hate to disappoint people!
I have made a few stitching goals:
1. To finish more than I start
2. To start and finish Pretty Pumpkins
3. To start and finish 3 Kings
4. To have my holiday stitching done prior to Thanksgiving

My other goals are:
Read more, lose 40 pounds, save more, work less, blog more, deal with turning 50 in 2008...!
We will see how it all goes!

Our Christmas was wonderful. We spent the day with friends. Both of us sure missed our kids and grand kids this year and decided that this could be the last time we spend Christmas in warm, sunny Florida for a while. We want to see the grand kids on Christmas and it is easier for us to travel than it is for the kids, so one year we will be in Michigan (brrrr!!!) and one year in Oklahoma (brrrr!!!!). Was there any real difference in the weather between the 2? How about the flight delays?? I'm going to be shopping at the Salvation Army for coats and warm clothes! I wonder if I can convince the kids to have Christmas in July??? I'm willing to do this for the grand kids... don't tell their parents!

We did something different for our friends this year for Christmas. I thought and thought about what I could give. We all have more "stuff" than we know what to do with.... What can we all use more of?? Time. How can I give Time?? We spent the weekend of Christmas cooking! We made chili, veggie soup, meatloaf, pumpkin bars, chocolate sheet cakes, seasoned crackers, cheesy biscuits and peanut butter balls. I sprinkled a bit of thyme in each dish.... Bagged everything in family style portions with my food saver and gave each family at least 3 meals. My boss had Time to spend with his busy family. Our friends had Time to stitch or sew or read or relax or travel. I'm so glad we did this. Everyone was very appreciative. I'm planning next years menu! I will keep my eyes open for the perfect presentation containers during the year.

Photos for your viewing pleasure!

Ruby's tassel! I had planned to give Ruby a tassel along with her Christmas Ornament (see last post!), so this guy was on her gifty bag! We spent the day today with Bill & Ruby. We always enjoy our time with them.

Ruby collects Christmas Trees. Her display is so beautiful, I just had to share it with you.

I promised a picture of the lanai tree. I tried to get photos of the one and only Dallas Cowboys ornie, but it came out way to blurry! I'm sorry if I lead you to believe we had a bunch of them! Just one! Also just one University of Oklahoma ornie too! Those 2 are very special to me as they are the only ones my DH will put on the tree.....

Doesn't this just make you smile?? Miss Marissa, granddaughter of our friends we spent Christmas day with (little sister to Richard with the spoons in a previous post)! Miss Marissa got finger paints for Christmas. Miss Marissa thought it would be fun to finger paint her body while the rest of us ate our Christmas dinner!! We laughed so hard! Her Daddy had a hard time getting hold of her!

Saturday was the End of Year Stitching Party with Susan Greening Davis. We had a great time with a great project. I have finished all the stitching on the project piece. Now I have to put it together... I'm construction challenged, but hope to have this done done by the end of the month. Guess I should add it to my goals!

I have my Steamy Sunday Stitching ladies here this Sunday. I'm looking forward to this. Guess I will not start the diet until the 7th!

Thanks to all who have stopped by my blog & left comments. I love them! You guys are the best!!!

Stay safe! Be well! Stitch lots! Be happy!
Enjoy!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Long time no post!

2007-12-16T21:16:00.000-05:00

But the good news is Hubby finally has a job & he is on the computer all day, most every day! Yippee! To celebrate, I bought more Needle Necessities threads! Gotta love it!

I have finished my holiday stitching and only have one piece left to finish finish.
The grandkids, EGA, ABWA, friends and friends grandkids all got the same thing:
The presentation:

Ornament for JCS 2007 Ornament issue.

I have been stitching on CDC, but no new pictures to show yet.

It has been a busy couple weeks at our house with Holiday parties and the hurry hurry run run of the season. I love seeing everyone and the yummy food and wonderful conversation, but, miss my quiet t-shirt no bra evenings at home! **No photos of this** thankyouverymuch!
We spent the Friday night & Saturday at a beautiful beach resort an hour south of here. Hubby is a Shriner and one of his clubs had a great party Friday night. The rate the resort gave us was too good to pass up, so we stayed, which allowed us both to indulge in the libations! The bummer was the weather. It rained sooo hard Friday afternoon, Saturday was rainy and windy. But it was still nice to get away and relax and we found some time to enjoy the beautiful beach! Kind of seems like an oxymoron to this Kansas girl... beach/enjoy/December!

Here is our room!

A view of the beach Saturday morning

I have to say I took this same picture with my phone & sent it to family digging out of the ice and snow in Kansas and Oklahoma with the caption to "Stay Warm"....

The main course from dinner Friday night

And desert! A Yule log! The meal was delish!!!! And the presentation and attention from the wait staff was first class!

As promised some Christmas decorations:

My Santa collection

The tree in the living room. The ornaments on this tree are either all glass or all metal. I'm weird.....

I need to get a photo of the tree on the lanai. That one is all the fun stuff... Wizard of Oz, OU football, Dallas Cowboys football, McDonald's, Shells, bells, Rusty Wallace, Santas.... I discovered that I basically have NO stitched ornaments. That is going to change this year!

Finally, this is the ornament I received at our EGA Christmas party this week. It is ceramic and has a peyote band. I love it. Created by our own Peyote Princess Melissa!

One last thought...
I just love the holiday decorations around town and want to share this picture of the A.C. Freeman house with you. Our Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce is located here. The main floor is restored and open for tours. This beautiful home greats you as you come over the Peace River Bridge into Punta Gorda. It is 1 block west of my office. Don't you love the porch??? I'm longing to spend a lazy afternoon stitching here!

Bed time!
Stay safe!
Merry Christmas!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

A picture.....

2007-11-26T21:52:00.000-05:00

is worth a few hundred stitches!
I couldn't wait!
I will try to get better pictures as time goes on.....
The rest of my stitching is toast....
Happy Monday!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Thanksgiving Weekend Update

2007-11-25T18:27:00.000-05:00

Where did the 4 days go?
I am not ready to go back to work tomorrow....

Hope you all had a wondertastic holiday with family & loved ones.
My birthday was Wednesday, so the holiday festivities started early! I received flowers at work from my dear stitching friends Marleen & Eileen! They are beautiful and really brightened the day. Lots of cards and phone calls with well wishes too!
Hubby bought me roses. My recent trip to Treasure Island to stitch with Susan was my "official" present from DH!

We spent Thanksgiving day with our dear friends Pat & Richie. All the turkey & ham & sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes and green beans and pie and cake and fun you can imagine! There were 13 of us at the table.

Our pre-dinner entertainment was their grandson RJ and his magic spoons!

I did not go shopping Friday. There is not enough money or bargains in the world to get me out to the stores on Black Friday! We had friends down from Michigan for dinner on Friday. I fixed a big pot roast with gravy and mashed potatoes and mixed veggies and my Moms Cherry Jello for desert. Not sure where my camera was, but no pictures! Oh, I also learned how to drink gimlets.... so that could answer where my camera was!

My DH had a wonderful time all week teasing me about a big surprise trip on Saturday. The only things he would tell me:
1. Dress like I would if I was going out goofing off on Saturday with friends..
2. Not to make any plans for Saturday.
3. Be ready to go at Noon. (He had a commitment Saturday morning at the Shrine).
I asked all kinds of questions. Where are we going? Do I need to pack a bag? Are we going alone? Have I been there before?.... He would not answer any of my questions. If you know Bruce, this had to be very hard for him because he is not good at keeping secrets, or anything for that matter, from me!

Noon came, he was home from the Shrine. I'm ready to go. He is outside doing something in the garage. I'm waiting.... wondering.... Then he comes in & says he has to tell me something because he can't find something..... OK, I ask, what are you looking for? His reply, "Your stitching bag..." My reply "I thought I didn't need to pack a bag"...... so I hand him my stitching bag. We get in the car & leave! My surprise....

Dinner & stitching with Bill & Ruby! I couldn't think of a better way to spend an afternoon! Bill & Ruby fixed Port tenderloin, a yummy pear/lime jello salad & my very favorite black eyed peas, sweet potatoes and my very favorite red velvet cake!
We had a great time visiting and looking at cross stitch books! I think I made a half dozen stitches~ nothing to show you on that end as I am still working on my Christmas stitching~ But...... you all know I have been lusting after Ink Circles CDC.... Cathy at Golden Needle ordered some of Ink Circles Charts after I showed her their website... Last week when I was at the shop, I picked up my threads for the project, but did not see the chart yet. I didn't ask.... It's a good thing.... because look what Ruby & Bill gave me for my birthday!!

Now if I could just get this Christmas stitching done I could start CDC! I'm think I will go work on it now!
Enjoy your week! Think happy thoughts! I'm going to stitch.... I just have to start CDC!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

A Thanksgiving Poem

2007-11-22T22:24:00.000-05:00

"Twas the night of Thanksgiving, but I just couldn't sleep.
I tried counting backwards, I tried counting sheep.

The leftovers beckoned. The dark meat and white.
But I fought the temptation with all my might.

Tossing and turning with great anticipation
The thought of a snack became just infatuation.

So, I raced to the kitchen, flung open the door.
And gazed at the fridge, full of goodies galore.

I gobbled up turkey and buttered potatoes,
pickles and carrots. beans and tomatoes.

I felt myself swelling so plump and so round,
'Til all of a sudden, I rose off the ground.

I crashed through the ceiling, floating into the sky
With a mouthful of pudding and a handful of pie.

But, I managed to yell as I soared past the trees...
happy eating to all - pass the cranberries, please.

May your stuffing be tasty, may your turkey be plump.
May your potatoes 'n gravy have nary a lump.

May your yams be delicious, may your pies take the prize,
May your Thanksgiving dinner stay off your thighs!

But most of all let's be thankful for living ….
and may you and your loved ones be blessed this Thanksgiving.

xoxo
~~Martha~~

Susan Greening Davis, Treasure Island Part 3 & Golden Needle Stitch Night & Happy Thanksgiving!!

2007-11-18T18:43:00.000-05:00

I have to share my good fortune! Susan always has a fund raiser for Breast Cancer at her retreats. I was lucky enough to win one of the goody piles! This lovely little Spool Doll was in the prize basket I won. Isn't she sweet?? Ok, I'm done tempting you with photos from Treasure Island!

Golden Needle Stitch night was this week. Cathy organized a stitchers tree for the local Symphony of Trees and here it is! Lots of us stitched these lovely ornaments. I did a quick rough count & think there are approx. 90 hand stitched Christmas balls on the tree!

Our Golden Needle Stitching group!

I spent the weekend putting up my Christmas decorations! I know it is early, but I have plans for next weekend (don't ask me what because dear hubby said it is a surprise!)& wanted it done! This is my collection of Tom Clarks People at Prayer & it stays out all year. I will post Christmas photos AFTER Thanksgiving!

Hope you all have a blessed Thanksgiving Holiday! You are ALL my blessings!
Thanks for being there!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Susan Greening Davis, Treasure Island, Part 2

2007-11-18T18:30:00.000-05:00

This is the inside for the Shaker Box~~Stitching Smalls.

Saturday evening, after the trip to the LNS, we went down the street to Sloppy Joes for Supper!

Sunday morning, we enjoyed breakfast in the courtyard of the hotel. I'm stumped... I can't think of an "s" word for breakfast..... But Stitchers sure do like food! Breakfast was yummy. This is the first time I ever had creamed eggs & I'm planning on serving them at my Christmas morning breakfast! I googled creamed eggs & it sounds quite easy!

Sunset on the Gulf Saturday night.

Stitchers Sitting in the Sun. This was after **lunch** (more food!) on Saturday.

Susan Greening Davis

2007-11-18T18:01:00.000-05:00

My weekend at Treasure Island, Florida studying with Susan Greening Davis was wonderful. This is a picture of the Shaker Box that will hold the Smalls that Susan designed. The items that go inside the Shaker Box are a needle book, Scissor Holder, Tape Measure and Needle Guide.
As always, Susan & Sally provide a funderful class at an awesome location!

Here are a couple of our Smiling Stitchers!!

Ohhhhh Ahhhhhhh.... Stitchers Stash!

Serious Stitchers!

Silly Sticky Stuff Stitchers!!

The weekend really was great. I always enjoy my class time and my visiting time. Sometimes I get the 2 confused!
Nicole (Island Breeze) sat next to me. She is such a doll. She lives near the hotel, so was our tour guide for a trip to the 2 LNS! Thanks tons Nicole!!!
I also got to spend time with my stitching friends Marleen & my adopted Mom Eileen. My roomy was nice, she didn't complain that I snored....really loud!

For more photos see Nicoles blog and my next post!

November

2007-11-04T17:30:00.000-05:00

I am in awe at how fast this year is flying by!! Holly cow!
It was a beautimus fall weekend on the Florida Gulf coast. Sad to see the pool temp drop to 75, but wonderful to turn the a/c off & open the house!

I hosted my stitchy friends today (my DH calls it my "hen party")! It's such a treat to be able to do this. The highlight of my month. This is my reward for cleaning house!

The fist photo is a little something our mystery guest stitcher finished this afternoon! Do you know who she is? Can you tell her style???

Here are Louise & Sara. Sara does the most awesome thing with that counted canvas stuff! I'm ashamed to say I did not get a photo of her recent finish. Louise is also a counted canvas expert, but, she was working on linen today

Meet Jessica! This is the Jessica, daughter of Deb aka Lavender Rose. It was such a treat to have her come stitch with us. Nicole (Island Breeze) is trying to move out of the picture!

And Malinda and Deb. If we would have stitched as many words as we spoke, ALL our UFO's would be done now!

TaaaDaaaah! Here is Cathy of The Golden Needle and..... our guest mystery stitcher, designer and teacher extraordinaire..... Susan Greening Davis!

I'm missing pictures of lots of the ladies. We had Charlotte, who made a desert called "Death by Carmel".... it was soooo good, Ruby brought mushroom gravy and some yummy orange/ginger carrots, Mary Jane, God love her, she comes to these things and only eats fresh veggies...., Jessica, Deborah, Queen Patti who was stitching a beautiful hand painted canvas with really cool stitches. Eleanor brought coconut/chocolate/raspberry cookies and cheesy sauce for the baked taters. Nicole, from Island Breeze was busy giving her headless sheep a head! Louise made apple pie, Gigi & Edith our newest stitchers, Malinda made the best chili, Sara brought pumpkin cheesecake, Cathy & Susan. We had baked potatoes and all the fixings you could think of to add to them. Gigi & Eleanor brought their finished tassels from my tassel class & they are beautiful!

The day always goes way to fast for me. I love these ladies & it's such a treat to spend some quality stitching time with them.

I'm off to Treasure Island next Friday for the weekend. I am spending the day Friday in another office to observe and see how they do things. Friday night is class with Susan Greening Davis, as is Saturday, Saturday night & Sunday. I'm looking forward to this retreat and some time away. The Thunderbird Inn is right on the beach. I'll take lots of pictures.

Thanks for all your kind comments. I wish you all could come to my hen parties!
DH is hungry, best go heat him up a left over baked potato!
Stay safe!
xoxo

Peyote

2007-10-28T22:24:00.000-04:00

Ok, the "rule" is I must work on my peyote bracelet at EGA.... soooo, here is this weeks progress! Only another 3, or 4 inches to go!

Our EGA "Dress as a Stitch" night was a hoot....

We had the following stitches present at the meeting:
2 Queen stitch
A Box Stitch
A Lazy Daisy Stitch
A Long Armed Cross Stitch
A Feather Stitch
A Chained Feather Stitch
The Frog Stitch rip-it rip-it
A Sheaf Stitch
A Half Stitch
Hardanger Stitches

I almost finished 3 more Christmas ornaments this week. No photos as they are gifts! Hehehe...

And.... I am honored to have received the "you make me smile award" from Teejay and from Deborah (find links to their blogs on my side bar). Thank you ladies! I'm supposed to pass this award on to others who make me smile.... You all do! Thanks for your support, encouragement & most of all welcoming me to the blogging world!
Once I figure out how to make these links work on my posts.... I'm so techno challenged!
Off to bed. It's going to be another busy week, but one week from today is Steamy Sunday Stitching! I can't wait!
Be safe & don't have too many tricks or treats for Halloween!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Tassels Anyone??

2007-10-21T19:40:00.000-04:00

Whew.... I think all 15 students had a good time & enjoyed their tassel lesson! No one yelled at me and no one left the room crying!
This is a picture of my international student! She came all the way from England to take my tassel class.... (Ok, she happened to be coming to the area on vacation at the same time....) Carol taught us all how to make our own hand made cording, without using the battery powered twisty thingy that I use. Her cording is nice and tight and beautimus! Thank you!!

My studious students! They worked soooo hard! I hope I get to see all their finished tassels. The color combinations were awesome. Every time I went to the fiber & bead table I found another color combo I **must** do!

Sweet Anita, she is making the most fun color combo... my favorite slimy limey green with hot pink beads!

Another class will be planned soon. We think right after the first of the year. Watch this site, and Goldeneedle.com for details.

On the stitching front. I became very bored with Nepi today, so I started another Christmas ornament, cut the fabric for They Came from Afar, 2 more Callie quilt blocks and 2 Multiplication Tables. I now have a basket full of started or ready to start projects. What is wrong with me????

Enjoy your week! It will be a busy one...
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Had to share....

2007-10-19T19:40:00.000-04:00

My 2 day meeting for work was awesome! It's really wonderful to network with others who do what you do. I have to share a story....

My job is customer service. I'm the Senior Branch Office Administrator (BOA) for an international investment firm (Edward Jones). We sell stocks, bonds, mutual funds, cds, annuities, life insurance, long term care, banking services (credit cards/money market/debit cards/mortgages).... all the stuff that makes most peoples eyes glaze over (including mine!). I'm responsible for everything in the branch office, with the exception of soliciting orders. Our office structure is, for the most part, one broker (Financial Advisor) and one BOA. My FA is also the Regional Leader for Southwest Florida. Because of this leadership position, and the fact that we are a very productive office, we have an additional BOA. I serve, informally (only because we have not set up a formal program....yet), as a mentor for the new BOAs in our area. I'm a life line/phone-a-friend/supporter/encourager, kinda like the mom! Several years ago, we helped another new FA get started in the business by giving him a place to work in our back room, teaching him the business, supporting, and providing some accounts to manage. He has since moved on to his own office and is doing quite well. He hired a new BOA 9 months ago and I made a point to call and introduce myself to her on her first day in the office and encouraged her to call me if she every had questions or needed support or encouragement. She called me.... lots! But that's ok. I meant it when I reached out to her. She was always so sweet & thankful for everything. No big deal, I'm just doing my job, a job I love with an awesome company. If one succeeds, we all succeed....

One thing we do in our community each month during the school year is we honor 2 senior students at the local high school as "Student of the Month". It's simple, We asked the principal to give us the name of one female and one male student who has shown good citizenship/stewardship qualities. The school will give me some background on the student, why they were chosen, what they like about the High School, what their future plans are... I print up a certificate on certificate paper, put it in a $3 frame from WalMart, we go to the High School, make a big deal out of these kids, present the certificate, meet the family, take a few pictures and go on about our day. I love SOM day, because these kids, usually, are not the star athlete or the high honor student or the one that gets the lead in the play. They are "just" kids... It always just feels good...

Are you tired of reading yet? I'm sorry, but I want to give you lots of background, so you can understand why this is just soooo awesome! You might want to stop now & get a tissue before you continue.

Our company mission / goal is Customer Service Excellence. How can we make a difference in our customers lives? How can we motivate them to come back? How can we get them to refer their friends and family? How can we retain them?

This was the discussion led by my FA yesterday afternoon. Part of his presentation was this video: Johnny the Bagger

***Please stop reading and watch this short video now.... tissue handy....***

After the video, my FA told the story about one of our Students of the Month from several years ago. A young man name Robert, with Down Syndrome. Robert made a difference with his fellow class mates and the school administration. He was recognized because he went out of his way to help those with disabilities in the class room. be it tieing some ones shoes, giving them a pat on the back for accomplishing something, holding the door, encouraging, offering a smile ... After the award presentation, we went to meet the families. Roberts grandparents came from Canada to see their grandson get is certificate in the $3 WalMart frame..... because they wouldn't miss is for anything....because Robert made a difference in their lives in ways on one could ever imagine....

Tissue?

At this point in my FA's presentation, the lady sitting across the isle from me leans over and grasps my arm and sobs.... "That is MY Robert, My son"......
I'm toast... We are both standing in the middle of a room with 45 women & one man... sobbing.... The lady? The new, 9 month tenure BOA from earlier in this story, my mentee....

Of course, this is the point where my FA says, "Martha, can you come up and update us on the BOA mentoring program"..... Sure....sob... ok..... sob.... I said, to him, and the group.... "I just learned this, the young man you just told us about, is the son of our very own Katherin".... sob.....sniffle..... you should have heard the collective gasp from the room.... Amazing...

I composed my self, somewhat...sniffle....sob.... gave my little talk on BOA mentoring and why it is important to the new BOA's, the seasoned BOA, the Firm, and most of all the clients... Couldn't have had a better lead in if it had been all planned.... had more than half the room volunteer to do what ever they could...

Isn't it funny how, at the most unexpected times, things can come full circle???

Go get a tissue. I'm all out!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

P.S. Tassel class tomorrow! Details following....

Some Stitching!

2007-10-15T20:38:00.000-04:00

Jamaica Deb is finished... except for some buttons around the sun. Not sure I will get them, or, make some more french knots! I loved the colors in this Sunflower Seed chart. Stitching on the Midas Cashel Linen was an added bonus!

Forever Yours.... by Cedar Hill. I am only lacking the words. I thought I had every GAST. Guess what one I am missing.... Verigated khaki. The hearts were fun to stitch. I think **one** of my most favorite color combos is khaki and red (DMC 221). I'm anxious to finish this and then try my hand at finishing this in a pinkeep style that I can hang on the wall (if that makes a whole lot of sense!). Will let you know how that little experiment goes!

I started Lynne Nicoletti's Neptune Poseidon last night. I'm stitching "Nepi" on Silkweavers 28ct Lugana "Splash". Love the name. This one will take me a while.

My next start will be From The East. Thanks Teejay for your kind words! I'm going to stitch this as one piece. I'm off to Golden Needle on Saturday to teach my tassel class, so I will get the fabric I need for this, along with the GAST for Forever and.... I'm sure more stuff too!

I tried to get a photo of my peyote bracelet I'm working on at the EGA stitch-in, but I can't get a decent photo. I will keep trying. I think I only have 3 inches done, so this one will take a while. Oh.... speaking of EGA... our second October meeting is "Dress as a Stitch".... We are to each dress as a stitch... It's been fun trying to come up with different ideas. Dress in black and white, be a nun stitch... Wear black leather & carry a whip & be a whip stitch... Ruby said she was going to dress as an away knot and just not come...

I'm off to Sarasota FL for a conference (work related) Thursday & Friday. I'm looking forward to being out of the office and getting to network with others in my position. I have a presentation to make Thursday afternoon. Once I get past that it will great!

Fall is in the air. The pool temp was down to 85 degrees F. yesterday afternoon. I'm looking forward to the end of hurricane season. Stay safe! See you next week!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Welcome Desirae Nicole

2007-10-10T16:00:00.000-04:00

I'm a great aunt again! Meet Desi, born 10/09/07. Hope I get to see her before she is grown... Mom and baby are fine.
Geesh, my baby brother is a grandpa, again... I'm really feeling old....

xoxo

Sunday Stitching

2007-10-07T19:24:00.000-04:00

What a wonderful day! I'm miserable because I ate so much.....
Here is a group photo of the Steamy Sunday Stitching Group!
Front row r to l:
Me, Eleanor, Malinda, Gigi, Nicole, Dr. Patti.
Back row r to l:
Sarah, Edith, Ruby, Charlotte, Julia, Deb & Carolyn

Finished the Santa ornament. Added arms to Jamaica Deb. The girls helped me lay out Callie's baby quilt & "they" decided I need to stitch 2 more babies to make it come out right..... So I know that will not be getting done anytime real soon.... Maybe it will make an excellent graduation gift....

I so love my time with my stitching buddies. The day goes way too fast & I am sad when they leave. I'm already looking forward to November. We picked the menu! Baked potato bar! Wish you could all come join us! There is always room for more & plenty of food!

Oh Jane.... Deb, Eleanor, Julia & I are going to do a stitch-along with the pumpkins! You have to join us! I don't think we will start till after the first of the year??!!

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

Saturday Night...

2007-10-06T20:37:00.000-04:00

And tomorrow is Steamy Sunday Stitching! I can't wait! I made veggie soup for the ladies tomorrow. Nicole is coming! It's been so long since I have got to stitch with her. The camera will be out!

Been a long couple of weeks. Not the best of times. Momma always said if you don't have anything nice to say to just keep your mouth closed, sooooo I guess that's about all I will say! It's onward and upward from here. I did learn an extremely expensive lesson tho, if you make a verbal contract with anyone, no matter how close a relative or how good a friend, do both of you a favor and get it in writing....

Stitching!!!! I have been stitching! Looky-looky!
1. A finish! "A Very Merry Christmas" by JBW Design. This is a Christmas gift for someone....
2. A progress photo, I should finish this tomorrow. From this years Just Cross Stitch Ornament issue, "The Santa In The Moon" by Twisted Oaks Design.
3. Another progress photo: "Jamaica Deb" by The Sunflower Seed. I love the colors in this. Right now, I want to call her Nessa Rose....(I'm reading Wicked!!) Her arms will come soon.
4. This will be my next (maybe!) start, "From The East" by Astor Place. I have had this pattern for eons and can't decide if I want to stitch it as charted, or, stitch each King individually??? And make pillows??? I'm 99% sure, now, I think... I will stitch as charted. Let me know what you would do if you were me....

I may falter and start the Glendon Place pumpkins... I'm soooo in love with that piece too...

Last night we had a wonderful evening! It was very much needed after the last week. We (dear hubby & I) went to dinner with 3 other stitchers and their husbands! It was so much fun and the pizza place, Nino's, in Ft Myers was the best pizza I have ever had. Julia & Sam, Eleanor & Alan, and Deb (Lavender Rose) & Anthony had a great time getting to know each other, eating, laughing, talking about stitching... I'm sure Deb will post photos on her blog!

My little girl, Marla, turned 28 this week. I'm still finding it hard to believe. Just yesterday she was a baby... I just can't believe she is 28.... Several months ago we were talking on the phone & she was telling me all about this new, wonderful man in her life, he does this for a living, he drives that, he has worked at his job for this many years, he owns this, he owns that.... blah blah blah.... and I say to her "Marla, how OLD is this guy anyway?"..... She replied, "He's 32." I replied: "MARLA JANE!".... silence.....then......she replied..... "Mother, I'm 27." I replied "Oh." I'm thinking I'm having this conversation with my 16-17 year old child.... sigh..... I miss her tons! Love her more.

Off to finish my laundry, get a few stitches in & tidy up a bit for tomorrow. More later! Stay safe!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Happy Fall Y'all!

2007-09-22T22:20:00.000-04:00

Happy Fall, Y'all. This was my favorite time of year when we lived in Michigan. The leaves turning colors. The huge crates of fresh apples in the grocery stores (you could smell them the second you walked in the store!). Raking leaves. I think it is the only season I really miss!

New pictures for your viewing pleasure. As I have mentioned in passing, I have been a huge Big Brother fan since the first season. Am I happy with who won this year? Yes.... and no. I'm not a Dick and Danielle fan, but, they played the game. This mornings e mail brought the first photo. This is my baby brother and BB8 Jessica. She is from Haysville Kansas, which is minutes south of Wichita Kansas (my home town). My baby brother is a member of the Legion Riders. kspatriotguard.org/index.htm
Their mission: The Patriot Guard mission is to stand guard at funerals of our Fallen Soldiers of current wars who were killed in action or are casualties of war.
However, this time, they met Jessica at the airport to escort them and welcome her home, Her brother is a Marine serving in Iraq and he to was escorting her home on the plane along with another soldier.
Thought that was pretty cool. I'm also a huge NASCAR fan & another e mail from my baby brother stated he has 2 extra tickets to the Kansas race next weekend, would I like them..... The answer was yes, I would LOVE to have them, but it's just not anywhere in the budget this year. Oh well. I still love him....

Next picture. I finished the birth sampler! Yippee!!!!! It felt so good to sign the piece when I finised it! Now the big task of making the quilt. I'm so glad I have a dear friend named Eleanor who has offered her expertise!

I played hooky from work yesterday. I'm not one to just call in or take an unplanned day off. I work sick. It's just easier. But... on Thursday I just felt I couldn't do it another day. I asked Jim if he had a preference as to which day in the next 3 I took off. Friday? Monday? Tuesday? He left it up to me! Sooooo Friday it was. Bruce & I took our dear friends Ruby & Bill to Venice for the afternoon. Our first stop was Needlepoint Ivy. www.needlepointivy.com
Cyndi and her husband, the owners, were so nice. We had a great visit with them & found tons of things that we need.... The next 3 pictures are from the trunk show. The designer is Glendon Place. I want them all! I really think I must do Three Kings and Pretty Pumpkins! After Needlepoint Ivy, it was off to lunch at my most favorite restaurant in Florida, Luna's. I had to have one of their signature pasta dishes. I had some of the leftovers for lunch today. Will have more of the leftovers for lunch Monday & Tuesday.... Huge portions and very very yummy! Then it was off to Creative Framing. Linda does an awesome job of framing and needlework is her speciality. Ruby has stitched all the Shepherds Bush pieces from the Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issues and Linda had great ideas for framing those. On the way home, we stopped at Golden Needle www.goldeneedle.com and looked at all the goodies there. the guys were great, Bill & Bruce didn't complain TOO loudly about all our stops and looky-looky! After all, they got to spend the day with us.

With my finish yesterday morning, I kitted up 6 pieces to take it's place!
A Very Merry Christmas by JBW Designs, stitching on 28 ct Mint Green Lugana.
From The East an OP by Astor Place, stitching on 10 ct black.
Jamaica Deb by The Sunflower Seed, stitching on 28 ct Midas Cashel linen.
Neptune Poseidon by Lynne Nicoletti, stitching on Silkweaver 28 ct Lugana "Splash".
Forever Yours by Cedar Hill, stitching on 28 ct natural linen.
Nautical Fence by Raise the Roof, stitching on 28 count sea water blue (I have no clue what exactly the fabric is, but it has a great hand & color!).

Don't ask when I'm going to do the "other" pieces.... ;^)
I'll post progress photos....

We spent part of the day puppy shopping. Nothing yet. We want a female miniature schnauzer. Black or salt & pepper. We will keep looking... Also did the dreaded yard work. I know come Monday I will wonder why the back of my legs are killing me. The flower beds look very nice now.... Also got some stitching in today and made a big pan of chicken pot pie.

Please keep my neighbors, Bonnie & Stef, in your prayers. Our doorbell rang at 7:30 this morning. It was Stef. He & Bonnie were flying to New York. Bonnie's daughter was killed in an auto accident there late last night. I didn't get the details (I was sound asleep). Stef is from Italy and has a heavy heavy accent & it's very hard to understand him when he is "good". So say a prayer for them please.

Stay safe! Nighty-night.
xoxo

Blabber.....

2007-09-15T13:54:00.000-04:00

I hate it when I wake up bright eyed and ready to go at 5:00 a.m...... on a Saturday!
DH wanted to sleep in, soooo, kind hearted me, came to the computer and got lost in the www! You know how it goes..... one click leads to another click to another click to another click.... and when it's all said and done, I've spent my weeks earnings on new stash! Thank goodness I never clicked "check out now"!

First off, as promised, here is a pictures of King Tut! This is Julia's project. All done with delica beads. It's simply wonderful to fondle..... Yes, all the ladies at EGA on Thursday could not stop fondling King Tut.... The overall project is probably 4" x 6" I'm guessing. Its just beautimus! She only has a couple of more rows and he is done. Julia brought this to show & tell at Sunday Stitching and I missed getting a photo then. Which brings me to one of my first clicks this morning.... Julia's next project is going to be "Girl with the Pearl Earring". I'm sure she is doing this with beads too, but I found this really cool site: xs-collectibles.com and I fell in love with Flower Vendor I & II and several of the Fractal pieces. I'm sooooo easy....

Then.... the next picture to share today is also from EGA. Our program was "Color Personalities". Our assignment was to stitch a simple pattern in our favorite fibers/colors on our choice of fabric. Then, using the information from the book "Color Harmony 2" by Bride M Whelan

we all tried to figure out who stitched what. The second photo is my creation. According to the book, my personality is: trendy, youthful, offbeat, energetic, refreshing, soothing, calm, tranquil. I think some of those offset the other..... So of course, I had to put the book in my shopping cart....

Sooo... from there, don't ask me how, but I landed at the website for Ink Circles
www.inkcircles.com
and fall in love with Cirque des Cercles...... why oh why????

Then.... because I'm still being the thoughtful wife and letting DH sleep.... I find myself at www.carriagehousesamplings.com Ok, when I was a little girl, I do not remember what grade it was, but I could not for the life of me master my multiplication and division tables. My father took his Kool cigarette cartons, cut them up and made multiplication and division flash cards for me. We had to go over those things every morning for an hour before he left for work and every evening for an hour before I went to bed. Needless to say, I always hated math.... so while I'm clicking around Carriage House, I find this awesome Multiplication Table Sampler. I think this would be a great thing for the Grandkids.... I justify my "add to cart" with the excuse that it is educational and it is for the Grandkids... While walking up and down the isles, I also found Sampler Folk, Deep Blue Sea and V is for Valentine (to go with all those other unstitched charts that I am going to do for DH each year for Valentines day...)

Then, I end up at another stitchers photo album (I forgot who!) and see the Prairie Schoolar Alphabet. This has been on my wish list for months. Our local Quilt Club has an exhibit every year and at the last one, someone had stitched these as a baby quilt for their grandchild. All done in the beautiful fall colors. I want this book!
wwwstitchesnthings.com/detail.cfm?ID=4139 soooo I start wondering when the next quilt show is and check out Peace River Quilters website.... www.peaceriverquilters.org I do not find the next date, but I do find that beautiful quilt!
www.peaceriverquilters.org/qsmedium58.jpg

Sooooo, that gets me to thinking about the baby quilt I'm doing to Callie, so here is an updated progress photo. I'm almost done with the blue! I'm almost done with the blue! I feel like the "Little Train that Could"! I think I can, I think I can.... Sooooo... that reminded me that I never took the picture of the beautiful afghan my Boss brought me from Scotland. Here it is! I love the colors!

Somewhere along the way, I find this never seen by my eyes chart: And They Sinned. Again, another I gotta have it!

By this time, I'm ready for a nap, DH is still asleep, it's after 8:00a.m.! How does time go so fast? I'm thinking I should eat, but then I remember the new swimsuit I bought last night..... that's the last photo for the day! It's pool time now, so I'm going to go float and, with any luck, take a snooze! We have company coming for dinner tonight. I have the brownies baked, and all the veggies chopped, so I best get moving! Who said I was ADD??

XOXO! Happy Saturday!

More Sunday Pictures

2007-09-10T22:15:00.001-04:00

Here's Ruby! She's not really mad..... She actually brought stitching and tools to stitch with. I love her dearly!
Right after everyone left Sunday evening, we had a heavy rain! Right before the rain started, we were treated to a double rainbow! Then the skys opened! We needed the rain! Saved me from having to pay for water to add to the pool for a couple more weeks! The last photo is the sunset from Saturday evening. I just had to share! Enjoy & have a wonderful week~
xoxo

Sunday Stitching

2007-09-10T21:36:00.000-04:00

I love my Sunday Stitching Group! We did have a grand time stitching and eating and talking and laughing. It's always fun to see what everyone is working on. The first photo is sisters Edith & Gigi (both are failry new stitchers!) and Sara who does beautiful things with counted canvas and purples! Photo number 2 is Charlotte working on a Just Nan, Queen Patti who is working on a beautiful needlepoint piece. She brought a bag of awesome fibers to fondle....Deb is checking out Julia's piece and Eleanor is working on a old UFO Christmas piece (she needs the scroll frame for another piece and is being a good girl and finishing an old start instead fo buying new scrolls or taking the old piece off! The next picture is Deb (Lavender Rose---see link to her blog on my sidebar) and Patti. Deb is working on her neighborhood round robin & it is soooo pretty! The next picture is Julia who is working on a needlepoint crab that she found while at ANG seminar a couple of weeks ago. This is the first time I have had the pleasure of stitching with Julia. I hope she will come back! The last picture is Cathy from Golden Needle. She was working on getting dear Ruby straightened out.... a full time job! I'll post a picture of Ruby in the next post. I look forward to the next chance to stitch with everyone!

Today was a typical Monday... Only 4 more get-ups till the weekend! Enjoy!
xoxo

Family

2007-09-08T19:28:00.000-04:00

I missed my family reunion last weekend, soooo... here is a family picture with out me! Can you figure out which ones are my brothers (3 of them are there, the oldest., like me, was AWOL) and which one is my sister (I only have 1)?

Tomorrow is my Steamy Sunday Stitching group at my house. I can't wait. A lot of stitching, visiting and food! I'll have my camera armed and ready. More later~~~ It's time for NASCAR, which means quality stitching time for me. Go Toooooonnnnyyy!
More tomorrow~
xoxo
Martha

Happy Labor Day Weekend end

2007-09-03T20:59:00.000-04:00

I get really sad at the end of the weekend~ I love love love being at home and doing home "stuff". This was a perfect weekend for us. Hubby and I did the yard stuff on Saturday morning, interrupted by a couple of dunks in the pool to cool off. I made a run to WalMart for the essentials Saturday afternoon. I hate shopping at WalMart, but made a swing by their craft department and was surprised to find their DMC floss on clearance for $.10 each! Home to put the stuff up and do a quick inventory and back to WalMart... The clerk was not pleased when she had to scan each skein individually even tho I made every effort to have the upc bar codes all at the same end.... oh well! $16 later and I was home again for the rest of the weekend! Stitching, eating, relaxing, floating in the pool, reading.... doesn't get much better than that!

Here is an updated picture of Callie's baby sampler. I'm on the home stretch and, actually think I will finish this soon! I also finished my EGA color personality piece for the meeting this Thursday and my ornament for the Christmas Ornament exchange. This was a great stitchy weekend! Hope y'all enjoyed yours as much as I did mine! xoxo

Happy Tuesday!

2007-08-28T19:19:00.000-04:00

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?

2007-08-23T19:58:00.000-04:00

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.....

2007-08-23T19:22:00.000-04:00

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!