Blowing Bubbles In The New Year

This is going to be my focus piece for 2009. Pam and I usually always start a new piece every Boxing Day, but as of late it's been New Year's Day and for 2009, not at all.

This coming year we've decided to move away from that tradition somewhat and choose something from our WIP pile, specifically a piece that has been neglected. The decision has been made that we are going to focus on Bubbles, at least that was the way it looked the last time we talked. We both have a few pieces that we've started together so there was no shortage of pieces of choice.

My plans are simple this year - stitch. When I'm stitching the goal will be to flip between the following pieces:

1. Wildlflower Rhapsody (more than half done)
2. Enchanted Fairy (1/4 finished - relatively quick piece)
3. Halloween Fairy (need supplies - so close to finished)
4. Bubbles (a very long way from the finish line)

I have a few things I would like to start and hopefully finish this year, but that is for another time and another post. I will just enjoy the craft and post the updates as they come. No pressure this year to work a certain amount of time or this ridiculous list of pieces I want to start or finish. I want to just enjoy myself and see what I can do.

So barring any catastrophic happenings in my world, I should be able to accomplish something and if I don't no big deal. I will try to return to the days of stitching while I'm working evenings and maybe be able to find some time to stitch at home, when I finally have a home again.

Is It Bedtime Yet?

I am exhausted and my day has barely begun.

I just got home from playing a round of 9 hole golf with Cute Boy and 3 of his co-workers. It was a lot of fun and I was a much better golfer once I quit hitting from the tee on my tip toes! Thank, Cute Boy for the insight BAAHHH He may regret correcting my form since I out drove him on a hole, or was it 2 holes! I love it! Our golfing partners were a very nice couple of people, Kim is the cutest ever! Percy, well there isn't much I can say about him, he's a Boston Red Sox fan... what is up with that! One hell of a golfer though. And about Cute Boy, well what can I tell you about him that I haven't already! Cute boy!

I'm now killing time waiting to head to Walmart, pick up a few things then go get Lily from work. I'm working tonight 6p-2a then turning around and heading to work for a 9am-5p Monday - Friday. This is going to be a long week, but nothing I haven't done before. This is my last weekend shift for a while, so as much as I'm already tired, I'm soooo excited to put this one behind me. I hope my office isn't looking for much support tomorrow because this girl is going to be running on empty!

Things where I work are changing in the next little bit and it will really affect me. I'm hoping it will affect me to the better, and when I know something more concrete I'll fill you in.

I'm going to work on Halloween Fairy tonight for an hour then the rest of the night on Wildflower Rhapsody. I'll probably not read much for fear of falling asleep. I will miss the Yankee ball game tonight as well as the Nascar race because of my social activities, but since the job pays the mortgage AND the cable bill, I must go to work! Edited to add: I'm officially out of Dandelion Stem and Black Coffee floss. Any other work on this piece will be the remaining work with other colours until I place an on-line order for additional floss.

Happy Stitching days to you!

Halloween Fairy - 30 hours

I've finally hit another 10 hour block on Halloween Fairy. It seems to be a long time since I've updated her which makes sense only working on this piece 1 hour per week and some weeks forgetting about her or not making time.

I think I'm going to run out of 2 colours, Dandelion Stem and Black Coffee. I'm not overly concerned because I'll just order more. I'm planning on working what I can until I run out of these two colours and then I'll put it aside while I await the 2 replacement skeins.

As much as I really like this piece I've been struggling with mistakes, the major reason I'll run out of 2 colours. I know my head was all over the place at various times while stitching her. In spite of all the mistakes (now corrected) I can't wait to see her finished, not just to put this mistake ridden piece behind me, but because I just love it!

Thank so much for looking.

Happy stitching days to you!

Mid Month Check Up

I'm really struggling with having no camera to post pics. I would be able to post a 30 hour pic, but I not able to do so. In place of posting a WIP pic, I'll have to torture you with a mid-month update of how I'm doing in achieving my stitching goals.

So far, I've worked on the following 4 pieces.

Halloween Fairy - I've worked 3 hrs 5 minutes (goal - 3 hrs). This little beauty now has a head, both arms and legs. I'm short on a one, possibly 2 colours. I'm not sure when I'm going to be ordering the floss I need because I don't want to place an order for $4.00 and then pay ridiculous shipping fees. I'll try and wait it out and see if I *need* something else to go along with my one little floss.

Rose of Sharon (Finisher's piece) - There is an additional 6hr 55 minutes done on this piece. I was hoping to contribute 10 hours, but not sure if I will bother now. Since it is being sent on to another person, if I don't think I can finish up a section in 3 hours, I may not even start it since the colour continuity is always a concern of mine. I will try to get a pic on here of my progress. No promises though.

Special Piece - 3 hours 30 minutes contributed (goal - 10 hours). I was thinking I could add 10 hours to this piece, but this piece really isn't all that big and I know there are a lot of people signed up to contribute so I'll restrain myself and not be a hog. Probably another half hour should finish it up for me.

Job's Tears - 1 hour contributed so far (goal 8 hours). I don't think I'll have any trouble meeting the 8 hour goal on this one. I couldn't stitch much more on it last night. The lighting was terrible so I had to pack it in before I was really expecting. I have this week to stitch in the evenings and then again this weekend when I'm at work.

Bonus Goals - Summer Breeze 5 hours and Enchanted Fairy 5 hours. I haven't even thought of them yet. It is still early. I might just surprise myself and get something done on one of them. Watch, I'll pull out Summer Breeze and then be inspired to work on it longer than 5 hours. Just my luck. Soon enough it'll be in the rotation and then it will drive me crazy. Isn't that always the way.

I think that's all I have on the go stitching-wise. Back in another couple weeks with the final totals.

Happy stitching days to you.

Smell That?

It really is spring! I just got home from work and on my way to my car I could smell a skunk. I was so happy I was grinning from ear to ear. I love the smell of skunk and I know when I smell one this time of year, in my books, it is officially spring. I'm so excited right now, you have no idea.

That is about all the excitement in my world today - a skunk smell.

I worked this weekend, which is nothing new. I stitched a bit, not near as much as I normally do, but I made a dent on the contribution I want to do with the Paula Vaughan piece I'm working on. I have another couple hours to contribute then I'm mailing it on to the next finisher.

I cleaned up my stitching list today. I still have 11 pieces on my WIP list. I'm slowly making progress on my UFO piece, Halloween Fairy. I should have a pic to share in another couple weeks. I had to do some frogging of her wing. I should have known better than to stitch while my house was under renovation. I will need to place an on-line order for floss because I definitely don't have enough to finish her up. Not a good thing, on-line shopping when I'm trying to cut my spending!

I didn't go to the gym today. I was a lazy bum this morning and hung out at Cute Boy's rather than getting up, coming home and heading to the gym. I did take my dog for a walk though. So she is happy I didn't go to the gym. I don't usually walk her because she doesn't 'need' it with living in the house and running crazy around the backyard. Cute Boy made me feel guilty about not walking her though, saying she may not need it, but was sure she'd like it. Okay, point made. Dog walked! I will try and make this part of my every day. One of the reasons I wanted a small dog after having a Rottweiler, is because I didn't have to walk her, not to mention the social responsibility of a larger dog is much greater than a small dog. People were so afraid of my Rottie, but it really is the Shih Tzu that is more temperamental than the Rottie every dreamed of being! Hmmmm

Anyway, I'm just chattering to chatter with nothing really much to say, other than I smelled a skunk! I love it!!!

Happy days to you!

Stitching Stories

I've been stitching some the last couple days, 3 hours in the last two days to be exact. There are days that I don't necessarily want to go to work, but when I get to stitch, I love my job. If it wasn't for the stitching I'm able to do at work, I'd find no time at all for this crafting outlet of mine.

I know a while ago I mentioned that I was going to work 1 hour each Sunday on a UFO piece. I have been negligent in doing so with my push to finish Love. That changed today. I worked for an hour on Halloween Fairy. The girl now has a neck and chin. I ran out of time and the anal tendencies that dictate my world forced me to put her down without finishing her face. Next week for sure the girl should have herself a blindfold. How exciting and just a tad bit naughty!

I've been wanting to finish Love for the last little bit, but it has been shelved for the time being so I can work on another piece. Rather fitting, the new piece I'm working on is also something I fondly refer to as 'Love'. I'm stitching it in hopes that it can help heal a broken heart. More on that once the piece has been assembled and received. I will show a pic when finished though. It is riddled with specialty stitches and as specialty stitches are not my forte, I'm a bit slow. All in the name of the game though, so I'll continue to plug along.

This piece is little but means a lot to me. I'm honoured to be a part of the overall plan for this piece, but it is with a wee broken heart of my own that I stitch it. There are moments when I will be staring off in to space thinking of the reason behind my contributions and it just tears me up. I'm trying to keep a positive outlook on the reason and what this truly represents. A love of depth and strength between two people. To find that in this lifetime; what greater gift than the opportunity to love another and have the very person love you the same in return.

Just thought I'd share that little bit of stitching news from my corner of the world.

Happy stitching days to you!

January Comes To A Close

January saw a month of many changes. It is hard to imagine the first month of this new has drawn to a close. Time flies and I know this to be true more now than ever.

January started off with a bang. I did my Resolution Run, which seems like ages ago. I started out strong at the gym, that has since faltered. I didn't start off because of New Year's Resolution, but because I want to slim down again, but more importantly I want muscle definition back and to feel healthy! Krista is a great support, but I've rebuffed her invites to the gym that a few days ago, she didn't even ask me along. Poor thing! Hugs, hon!

Todd and I looked at a house, loved it, looked at it again, bid on it and lost it! Damn it! It was THE house. Now we're in the process of figuring out what to do next. Do we buy, do we build? Oh, the decisions of a woman on the go! Since the whole house thing has begun, I've barely slept which is part and parcel why I'm struggling at the gym. No excuses, just what I see to be a cause for my lackluster drive for life right now.

This first month of the new year has seen the start of renovations on my house. I ALMOST have a completely renovated bathroom. It won't be too much longer and it will be finished. I have new doors on all the rooms with new knobs. Looking very spiffy, if I do say so myself. The basement now has a drywall ceiling.

January stitching progress was amazing considering how much I worked and how much work has been done around my house. I was able to stitch 41 hours 40 minutes on 3 pieces. I worked on Job's Tears, Love with a Capital L and Halloween Fairy. I eliminated 3 pieces from my list of current WIP. I just don't think the one gift will be well received, and the other 2, I don't see the person/people enough to commit this kind of time into a gift for them. I feel a little bad for that, but maybe in the future if the relationship changes with the last 2 pieces, I can pick them back up. All three pieces, I love they are, Paula Vaughan's Here Comes the Bride, Hydrangea Harvest, and Mirabilia's Middy. It made me a bit sad to scratch them from my list, but the flip side is I also felt a tremendous weight lift off my shoulders.

February is going to be another busy month. I'm hoping to have the renovations completed on my house and have it on the market by mid February. Todd and I will then have no choice but to make a decision about what we're gonig to do.

February stitching is going to be a good month too, I can tell already. I have 3 pieces that are so close to finished. I should see 2, if not 3 pieces finished. It will be the 3 of the 4 pieces I worked on in January. I think the closest to finished would be Love with a Capital L, followed by Halloween Fairy, then Job's Tears. To say I'm excited is an understatement!

Happy stitching days to you all.

Headless Fairy Wonder

My headless Halloween Fairy. I was only supposed to work on her for an hour today, but I was sailing along so well, I couldn't put the needle down.

I love how she has no head! I do this with many of my pieces. I know, V, it freaks you out. Just wait until I my next piece and it has a face and no eyes. You love that even more, eh? The reason for this headless wonder is because I start some pieces in the middle and I dislike stitching up so much I work over and down. Notice she has one arm and one leg. She is quite talented a fairy to be able to be so beautiful and balance so gracefully.

When I was almost finished stitching her today I noticed there is a mistake somewhere in her bodice. I will have to figure it out our next time together. Like it or not the wee girl might be getting herself a breast reduction. Poor wee thing!

Thanks so much for looking.

Happy stitching days to you.

UFO Sunday

I've really been so busy with holiday travel and work to dedicate much time to my stitching. I miss it and hopefully with life supposedly slowing down in the next couple days I should be able to get back to somewhat of a routine with my pieces. That is unlikely to the point it is probably laughable. A girl has a right to dream!

I'm always tooling with my approach to work pieces and trying to get closer to finishing things up, so here is another new one from me. Since I'm trying to work 1 hour per week on my UFO's, chosen piece Halloween Fairy I've decided since I work most weekends, I will use Sunday as my day to work 1 hour on my UFO. I am going to work 1 hour on Halloween Fairy every Sunday and then the remainder of my shift on Enchanted Fairy so I can still make some progress on her. She's much too early in the process of being worked to be neglected just yet.

Any stitching time I find throughout the week will be dedicated to Love with A Capital. I'm getting close to the finish line with this one, so I'm hoping another 40 hours will see this one complete. Can you imagine that, a finish within the first quarter of the new year? WOOHOO!!

Off to put needle to fabric with a wonderful cup of Chai tea at my side. The small wonders of life surround and astound me.

Halloween Fairy 10 hours

Here is what she looked like at 5 hours, prior to 1 hour per week as a UFO focus piece. I'm amazed at the difference of only 5 hours.

After the 5 hours. She's really starting to look like something now. WOOHOO


I'm loving this new way of working on UFO pieces. Thanks so much Chris for the idea.

Another Start? You're not Serious?

I feel a new piece comin' on! I know I'm supposed to be working towards finishing Love with A Capital L, and I will.


My new piece is going to be Enchanted Fairy

You see Pam and I have started a new piece together every Boxing Day for the last 7 years. This is 2008's Boxing Day piece, but a little early. We aren't sure what our work schedule is going to be like for Christmas this year, so we're shaking things up some. I was looking at our schedule and Pam and I are working together next weekend 2-10 and 6-2, so we're starting it then! I've been bugging her for a bit about starting it early, but is was all in fun and done just to get her going. In case you're wondering, it worked. I've not even seen nor touched the fabric as of yet, because she doesn't trust me not to start it without her. Has she no faith in me whatsoever? Anyway, work being what it is, we are starting her December 1st, only because of the work schedule and not because I'm a pest.

I also happened upon Chris' blog, I'd Rather Be Stitching and she has talked about doing a UFO challenge for 2008. She did have an ezboard started for it, but it has been closed. Not sure why. Her idea is to work on a UFO piece for 1 hour per week . You can focus on one piece or any of your UFO's. I have too many pieces to list every time I talk of them, but suffice it to say I had more than enough pieces to choose from when deciding to join in the UFO challenge. My UFO challenge piece is Mirabilia's Halloween Fairy. I'm going to do an hour on her today for the 2nd week in a row. I love it and don't know how I let her get to the point that she is an UFO. So sad and very silly. The challenge I face now is putting her down after the hour, but I did the first week and will do so again today! Not putting her down would defeat the purpose if I kept working on her, right? I would then finish her and in my excitement to do that, move Love to UFO status.

Who ever thought stitching could get so complicated?

I'm off now to find bobbins so I can start winding floss for Enchanted Fairy. This kind of high is better than any drug I could ever think of, not that I'm prolific in drug use! This is my addiction of another kind!

New Stitching Goal Layout

I've come upon the idea from another blogger, Chris, that I'm going to try for a while. I stumbled upon her blog and in reading discovered she is trying to work 1 hour per week on her UFO's. Seeing as I have many UFO's myself, I thought this would be a great idea for me, as well. Chris has started a UFO 2008 board. I've yet to introduce myself, but I will at some point.

I'm posting a pic of Mirabilia's Halloween Fairy that I will be focusing on for completion.

Here she is as of this morning at 5 hours
I'll be back with an update in another 5 hours or so.

I had many pieces to choose from as you will see by the following list:

Angel Proclamation
The Bride
Halloween Fairy
Be Warm Be Welcome
Bubbles
Middy
Treetop Sampler
Giggles Girl
My Stocking

Hmmmmm, always thinking, always planning!