Stitching update

I have been very busy just stitching away. A couple of people have pointed out to me that I was supposed to finish a couple of projects BEFORE I start a new one...so I will do that..My stitching parlor design will wait until I finish 3 projects. So that being typed...Here is what I have been working on since my last update.

Cherokee child: Finished page 5!! Only 4 pages to go!! She is turning out so pretty

LK Boo Flip-its: I have finished the first 8 designs. BTW Becki...I didn't have to frog Pumpkin...sorry couldn't resist

Mirabillia Cinderella- Worked on her dress and added more beads

Ozark Sampler SAL - Finished parts 1-6

Everything Jane Austen Challenge!!

I was reading a post by Tanya from the Sampler girl. She sent us a link to this wonderful blog that is hosting an Everything Jane Austen Challenge. I love Jane Austen...she is one of my favorite writers. Just this week I rewatched Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth and Sense & Sensibility. I decided to join this challenge.

The details! The Everything Austen Challenge will run for six months (July 1, 2009 – January 1, 2010)! All you need to do is pick out what six Austen-themed things you want to finish to complete the challenge. So here are my things:

1) Read Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict

2) Stitch "The Daughters of Longbourn" by the Stitching Parlor

3) Re-Read Pride and Prejudice

4) Watch the movie Lost in Austen

5) Read: Mr. Darcy's Diary by Amanda Grange

6) Read: Northanger Abbey

Ok..here are my 6 things~~ I can't wait!!!!

A Wintery Heirloom and Family updates

Kim and I made a decision to stitch this pattern together and work on it for 3 hours a week. I haven't worked on it in a couple of weeks so yesterday I really didn't feel like going out and doing anything so...I stitched on AWH for over 8 hours!!! Yes, summer break is a wonderful thing!!! I hope to finish page 2 by the time I go back to school in August. I was moving right along since it was only sky but then I ran into another dreaded tree!!! Yep!! This page has another tree!!!!

I called Disney today to check to see if the dining plan was available for the time of our trip but unfortuantely since we are going as a cast members guest, the dining plan is not offered. However, our trip is so close and we are getting very excited.

I am getting anxious and very sad right now. My sister, niece, nephew and BIL are all moving to New Delih, India on Tuesday. I am not sure how my mom is going to make it without her grandchildren. It is going to be a very sad day. Another sad note, they are not expecting my grandmother to make it home after this last stroke. It has been discussed that she is not doing well at all and will need to go into a nursing home because she will need round the clock care. It is very hard to see my grandmother who used to be very strong and outgoing turn into this very frail elderly lady who is losing her memory.

Ozark Sampler SAL

I had a very busy day today!!! First, I had to run by the library and get turn in my overdue books. Yes, I know that is a very terrible of me but I lost track of time and they were a couple of days late. Then, I ran by my LNS and dropped off the models Mary loaned us for the retreat. I also told Sara that I wouldn't be able to attend camp. I decided to take a store credit for the majority of the cost except for the non-refundable part. I did manage to clean out most of my layway bag so that means I have even more projects to work to stitch. After that, off to the mall....I got an email yesterday telling me that the mall was offering free $10 GC to people who belong to the mall club. I also had a $10.00 GC to JC Penny's...so I did some shopping. I bought some new shorts for summer. My final stop was Wal-mart. The Bentonville Wal-mart is remodeling so it was a pain to figure out. They say it is shopper friendly...but it isn't!!! I always wonder why they don't put the bread and milk near the front of the store...but ours is all the way in the back. I guess it is so you might do some more shopping.

I came home and started working on my Ozark Sampler SAL. I have completed parts 1,2, 3, 4, and 6. Part 5....I need to work on.. I did decide to try out a new recipe for baked mac and cheese. It sounded good....It took an hour to make...and it tasted like doggie doo....yes you read that right...doggie doo!!! It was so bad my DH wouldn't eat it. I followed the recipe to the tee...but it was bad!!! So we had oreos for dinner!! Very healthy huh?

Stitching Question: Have you ever looked at a project you have started...was excited about at first but later on...you look at it and decide you just HATE it?? I did that tonight. I love the Stoney Creek - Hometown Afghan design...I started stitching it on weeks dye works material. The more I looked at it...I just didn't like it...so tonight.... I made the decision not to stitch it. I cut out the first part that I had done and now my kitty is laying on it. I plan to stitch this design but not sure if I want to stitch it on an actual afghan (like it calls for ) or to do individual squares and have it turned into a quilt. I am thinking the latter.

What would you do?

I have a slight dilemma and I am not sure what to do? Last month I paid my entire retreat fee to go to my LNS yearly camp. However, while I was at my retreat I had an invitation from an old friend from my first job telling me we were having a get together on that day. Now, before you start shaking your head saying go to the retreat....These were GREAT friends. We have kept up with each other via emails, christmas cards, weddings etc. It has been YEARS since all of us has been in the same place at one time. We were more than just friends...we were a family. Some of them called my mother Mom....There is this HUGE part of me that wants to meet up with them. I thought about doing both, but we are meeting at one of their homes which is 1.5 hours away. It is sort of a reunion that I actually want to attend. So what would you do?

Here are a couple more pictures of the ILCS retreat. One of them is of Karin, Pam and Debra at the kiddie park, the other is Karin and I with Santa....last but not least...we have Karin in the fish tank at the Aquariaum (sp?)

BRD FINISH!!!

I got home from my retreat very LATE Sunday night. I was exhausted...I have to tell you it is a VERY long drive from Pigeon Forge, TN to Bella Vista, AR!!! I had a BLAST!!! There is so much to tell you but I am still tired from this trip so I will be posting small updates. My friend Becki from my LNS came with me. We managed to stop at 3 LNS before we picked up Karin in Nashville. Then we stopped at 2 more!! They were just wonderful!!! I shopped way too much before the retreat started..

While at the retreat, I worked on my BRD sewing sampler. I decided the retreat was the perfect place to work on all those little squares....I thought..how could I win the frog this year, right?? Wrong!!! The sad thing is, I didn't win the frog by stitching I won the frog because I kept screwing up my beaded ornament that Debra was teaching us how to create. Well, I kept screwing mine up....so I won the frog ...this is 3 years running. I can't believe I did that...back to the stitching update. I spent my stitching time working on my BRD...well today I finished it!!! Yes I have a finish...I think I am down to 15 projects.

I also managed to buy fabrics for 9 projects!!! So, I think I am really think that I am well stocked on designs to work on for quite some time.. My friend Kim mailed me some wonderful Tiara q-snap huggers. I plan on using them with my Cinderella design from Nora Corbett. I am just loving this design...it looks so pretty. I will post an update later on!!

Beading UGH!!!

I just have to let you know that I really HATE beading!!! I worked on my Cinderella piece this afternoon and I finished the beading on the castle. I have to say this is the most tedious job you could possibly do!! I have to say though, if you have to bead then you MUST buy a Tacky Bob. If you haven't used one..they are fabulous. They have sticky surface on both side where you can just pour your beads onto them and they stay in place!!! They only move when you pick them up with your needle. It made beading Cinderella very easy!!!

I worked on Cherokee Child yesterday. I am about 1/2 way finished with page 5!! I am so excited. My goal is to finish it by the end of the year. I just love this design. I looked at her and realized I stitched her little hand yesterday.

I am off to the retreat tomorrow. I finished the thank you notes today. I have kitted everything up and just about ready to start packing things up. I went to the grocery store for DH so he will have food to eat while I am out of town. All I have left to do is load up the truck. Then I am off to pick up Becki in Springdale. We are going to stop in Ft. Smith so I can see my grandma who is still in the hospital. Then we are going to pop over to a couple of really good used book stores. After that...we are off to the stitchers garden for their stitch in. I am not sure where we will spend the night. We plan on driving until we get tired!!!!!