Finishing Things Up!

I have decided to start doing some projects in the hundreds of magazines that reside on my bookshelves. What a grand idea, instead of sitting in there taking up space I am actually going to do the projects inside. It is funny because as I go through them, especially the Australian Homespun and Country Threads, I see all these projects that I have seen on the internet and I have said  “Oh I want to do that!” Well I can, I have the patterns.  The first one I completed today is from the Australian Country Threads Vol 9 num 10

I made the Embroidery Floss Tote by Carmel Scriha. It is cute, I love bags and  a bag with embroidery on it is perfect for me.

    I also finished up block 8 from the Bunny Hill Designs free block of the month. I have 9 blocks done now and still have 3 left to go. Actually I am not super happy with how this turned out but it will be okay.

My husband and I are watching some crazy John Travolta movie on VH1 and they just had a commercial for a work out video called Flirty Girl Fitness, you can even get a pole with it.  My husband asked if I wanted that – yeah right! Keep dreaming!

Merry Christmas!

What a morning! Santa came and all is well. My manager came in at 3 this morning and let me go home so I could help Santa out. I rushed home and did my “elfly” duties and tried to sleep for a couple hours.

The kids were so cute. I found Natalie and Alice sitting at the top of the stairs. They were waiting on Gordon –

He was so worried yesterday that he would be too excited to brush his teeth, but he was able to control himself.

Everyone was happy with their presents.

 

Including me: A piggy and fabric!!!!

And a book! And more books!! Including Sew Sunny Homestyle (which I already have – and I ordered them!! A sign of having too much)

So now the kids are busy: And I am tired. So maybe I will sneak in a nap!!

I have finished!!!

Wow, I didn’t think I was going to make it!  Natalie’s stocking is complete. I used three different Crab-Apple Hill patterns for the embroidery and added beads to hers. She was so picky but I think she chose a wonderful design. A lot of stitching!

 

I am so happy I was able to finish, she would have felt so left out.

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and the kids are insane with excitement!  I have to work tonight and tomorrow night but my manager is going to let me go early morning on Christmas day. We have most everything wrapped but still more to go.

I hope everyone is ready for the holidays!!

Blog Problems and Health Insurance

I had a report that my blog was not coming up on some computers so I took the background off thinking that may be the problem. I should have left it alone, now I have been up for an hour when I should have been sleeping for work.  I am like that, when something needs fixin’ - I want to fix it NOW. I think I am going to stop though because I will be regretting it at about three tomorrow morning.

The kids are so excited because weather reports possibility of snow. Oh goody, I don’t think they have clothes to wear if it snows. Lots of layers and lots of laundry I guess.

I was supposed to be getting an MRI to find out if I have a pinched nerve in my back but my insurance company denied the MRI. So nice to pay so much money every month for nothing. They have been denying us a lot lately. AETNA I hate you, can I say that or is that defacing/degrading or something silly like that.  Anyway, with my husbands job we have to change insurance companies next month anyway, going back to Blue Cross, they sucked also. Since my husband is a Postmaster with the Post Office we have Federal Postal Health Insurance, which really sucks (how many times have I used that word). They will not cover anything that has to do with your back and barely cover anything else. I guess it could be worse and we could have no insurance but then again, we wouldn’t be putting out a thousand dollars a month for nothing either. Oh health insurance, once was a good idea but now it just SUCKS!!!!!!!! (Can you tell I am mad) I am going to walk away from the computer now, I can’t afford to get any more fired up!!

(Not my cat or house but that is how I am feeling right now)

On that note, have a super evening and may all your crafting come without injury, because if you (I just had to erase a very long ramble- sorry).

Walking away!!

Next Stocking!

I know you were expecting a picture of Natalie’s stocking. Not going to happen. I made the – I don’t want to say mistake – but it is the only word that fits – of showing her what I was going to do. So lots of erasing later on the pattern and all I have is a reindeer pulling a sleigh with Santa on the bottom. You remember when you were 11, very particular, actually I cannot remember when I was 11, but I can’t remember if I brushed my teeth this morning :).  Anyway, it is still a WIP.

A friend emailed me this funny email today on global warming, the subject is not at all funny, but the picture was. I tried to figure out where it came from so I could give credit but I couldn’t, I wanted to share it with you.

The title of the email was: Hundreds Protest Global Warming!

I do believe someone has cold hands after this. I think it is amazing!!!

Gordon’s Stocking!!

I finished Gordon’s stocking tonight.  He loves it!! I even added a picture of his favorite stuffed animal “Pigges” on it.

I am now tracing out Natalie’s so I can stitch on it this week.  I have been working 3 nights every week this month and will be probably moving to four nights next month so I will be pretty wiped out.  I know it does not sound like a lot but 10 hours a night 9pm-7am, wears  me out, so adding more nights is going to be a struggle. Each night kind of takes 2 days away. But it sure will be nice getting a little more cash to make up for the holiday spending.

The hubby is torturing the children. Poor little Alice is about to have heart failure. He wrapped more presents and put them under the tree and they just can’t stand it. The next couple of weeks is going to be tough on them, they are so excited!!

One Down Two To Go!

I finished Alice’s Christmas  Stocking. She loves it. I put chenille on the back, it turned out cute. It looks a little busy with the snowflake print but I like it.

  I have Gordon’s halfway stitched. So I need to keep moving on. 

We all survived the sleepover and had a great time. I hope everyone is having a super weekend!!!

Happy Birthday Alice!!!!

My little girl is 7! I cannot believe it has been seven years since I waddled in to give birth to this precious little girl. I was freaking out because she was jaundice and we had to stay at the hospital for a couple weeks and then keep her on a light wrap at home for three months. She was a good baby, always headstrong from day one.

 

Always into some type of mischief, but doing it oh so sweetly:

Even when she was raiding the panty drawer:

My little Devil!!      

Always smiling:    

She has had a great year. No emergency room visits this year. I am proud!!!

She is my peacemaker. At school, at home, anywhere, she always tries to have everyone get along and fix problems when they arise. She is a smart cookie also, does fabulous in school. But do not get on her mad, oh goodness, she will let you know. Strong willed, use to drive me crazy.  She is my Mini-Me. And I am scared of her teenage years. She is going to be something. For now I will enjoy my little Ali-Bear and not think of the those years, you never know she could surprise me, she always does!!!

I need to get moving, I am picking her up early from school so we can do lunch and hang out!!!

Happy Birthday Ali-Bear – I love you baby!!!

Angel Swap Finally Mailed

So I finally mailed the package to my Angel, for the Hugs from Helen Stitcher’s  Angel Swap. There was a combination of reasons it was late, I mentioned one of them to you before than came the real big reason, MONEY. Yes money, the root of all evil. Money can’t buy you love, but it can pay for postage. My Angel is a wonderful young lady in Germany. We communicated a lot and got to know each other pretty well. I hope she will be happy with the package. Can you believe I did not take a picture of what I included, shame on me. I have shown you the pillow before: I also sent her a tiny pair of elf boots, valdani thread, a charm pack, 2 quilting books and I think that was it, I think, man I should have taken pictures.  Anyway everything had the same color scheme as the pillow because she likes those colors. I hope she loves them.

So this postage thing is ridiculous and unfortunately because of it, I will not be involved in any more swaps. Which is unfortunate but right now having the necessities for the house is much more important.

Speaking of money – time to go make some – off to work for me!!

From my Secret Angel

From my Secret Angel
Originally uploaded by stitchin.thyme

I received a package from my secret Angel and it is so lovely!!! I received a sewing bag with embroidery on the front, another bag, a pin cushion, and a little case (I use it for my scissors). Thank you Janet I love them all!!!!!

Gail Pan - WIP

Gail Pan - WIP
Originally uploaded by stitchin.thyme

Okay so I was so concerned about the flow of the block border fabrics I did not pay attention to the color of the embroidery thread. So I was thinking of just changing the two bottom left blocks to the pink shade of embroidery floss. The embroidery is so simple I figured this would be the easiest. Or should I just leave it. Any suggestions. I have had two very good suggestions already, one was change it if it is going to bother me, yes that is true and a good one. One was just leave it, I could do that too. Oh yes, I also had a third one of "just chuck it".

Verandah Views Quilt

Verandah Views Quilt
Originally uploaded by stitchin.thyme

I finished up the Vernadah Views walhanging last night. I am very pleased with it. The colors turned out awesome in my opinion. Cheryl Gross of Willowberry Designs designed a beautiful free BOM. I am so happy there are designers out there like her to share their talents with us!!! If you are interested in it you better get to her blog because it is only available until the end of December! Happy stitching!!!!

A tragic day for Baby Tiger!

On a small highway in North Carolina this was the scene on this 1st day of December 2009 at approximately 3:05 pm EST.

On the way home from picking the kids up at school, a terrible thing happened. The car windows were down and the wind blew Baby Tiger out of the car. “She flew through the air and got hit by an SUV,” says witness Gordon. Screams were heard inside the car. A fast thinking Mom, turned the car around and they located Baby Tiger on the roadway. Traffic was heavy, polite drivers were few, but Mom was able to retrieve Baby Tiger before she was hit again. Upon reaching the car, Mom realized Baby Tiger had lost an eye. She fought the traffic and with her mighty eye sight she was able to locate the lost eye rolling in the busy roadway.

The family rushed Baby Tiger home to their Trauma Center located in Mom’s sewing room. With glue gun in hand and Baby Tiger adequately sedated, Mom carefully repaired Baby Tigers eye.  She will now wear a patch for a day or so, or for however long Alice will leave it on, but she is fine.  She will probably keep the tire track across her belly and nose but she is still the sweetest Baby Tiger we know.

We Love you Baby Tiger!!!