Secret Stitcher

I received this last week but I am just now getting around to making a quick post about it.  I belong to the Queen City Sampler Guild.  For the past several years we have been doing a "secret stitcher" program of sorts.   You get a person to send stuff to for a year and a different person sends to you...all secret of course.  We reveal who we are at the Christmas party in December.  I have really had a lot of fun with this.  Below is what my secret stitcher send to me for Halloween.   I was blown away by her gifts.  All I can say is WOW and to whoever you are...THANK YOU!!

Everything was wrapped in tissue paper with the most wonderful ribbon (which I forgot to add to the photo)

Front of biscornu

 Back of biscornu

Needlecase with thread counters

I just love everything she sent.  I always love homemade things.  They are so much more special and mean so much more to me.

Until next time.

Christie



20 years ago.....

today I married my high school sweetheart and best friend.  He is the love of my life.  He is a fantastic man, wonderful husband even when is is annoying the heck out of me or snoring like a buzz saw, and father.

I came home from work today and found this beautiful basket of flowers.  He said he wanted the biggest one they had in the case.  How sweet is that. 

I also wanted to share a picture of my 15 year old.  She went to her 10th grade homecoming dance this past weekend.  She said she did not want a fancy prom dress since she was not going with a boy.  She is not one to smile for the camera so I get very happy when I get a picture of her happy face.   She meet up with a couple of her friends and had a wonderful time.

In case you are all wondering what the heck is coming out of my ceiling, it is a red towel.  We have had a roof leak for a couple of years and hubby cut a hole in the ceiling to try and track the leak down.  We got a new roof this year and they did a couple of other repairs.  We are now waiting a couple of months to make sure the leak is stopped before the folks come back and repair the wall the fireplace is on (replace the drywall and beams, paint etc...).  The insurance company is picking up the tab for the interior work.

Be back soon with another update.

Christie

Some Stitching

I know I promised a post of some finished stitching a long time ago, but I hit some snags recently.  Two weeks ago I had a fever a congestion..2 days off work.  This past weekend I wound up in the ER with severe stomach pain.  I was admitted for an overnight hospital stay.  Had a cat scan and lots of blood work done.  They are not sure if I had a severe attack with my IBS and a touch of the stomach bug, have a bleeding ulcer or something else unknown.  I have been home all week from work and in bed.  Still do not feel great.  Saw the family doc. on Thursday and he said my cat scan show some question and I was anemic and dehydrated in the hospital.  Not sure where the dehydration came from or the anemia.  So he now wants me to go back to the G.I. doc.  Have to make that appointment on Monday.  Not sure how I am going to make it to work next week still feeling this way.

Enough of all that, on with the stitching pictures.

I stitched this little guy at the retreat I went to in September.  He was a quick stitch.  The chart came from the 2011 JCS Halloween issue.  In case you are wondering what on earth is under my stitching it is Indi's kennel.  It sits in the front part of the house and gets the best light during the day.

I started LittleHouse Needleworks "Liberty" in the summer.  I then took a class and did some model stitching so it got shoved aside for a bit.  I am glad it is finished.  It will be made into a pillow some day I hope.  I used the called for linen and threads.

This next one was also a very quick stitch.  It is from Threadwork Primitives.  You can find her charts on Esty.  I used an unknown scrap from my stash.  I used the following threads: WDW Mascara, Terra Cotta and Hazelnut, DMC 828 and 3021.  I really like this one.  My picture does not do it justice at all.

I mentioned that I took a class this summer.  The class was taught by Ellen Chester of With My Needle.   I finished my stitching and sent it of to the finisher.  I got it back a couple of weeks ago.  Below is the front, inside and back of my "Long May She Wave" needlebook.  I just love it.  Ellen had some wonderful history and slides to show during her class.



These next two are not my stitching by those of a wonderful new stitching friend and designer Beth Twist of Heartstring Samplery.  I did some model stitching for her this summer and she sent me this wonderful package to thank me.  I was so in awe and never expected her to do this.  I was my pleasure to stitch for her.  The note cards I believe are made from one of her photographs.  She is a very talented lady.  Thank you again Beth.

If you have made it this far, thank you for sticking with me.  I will try to not be so long between posts next time.

Christie

New Fall Giveaway...

over at Taking the Scenic Route.  She is doing a giveaway for a wonderful acorn mat.  I don't know about you but I love Fall and anything to do with acorns.   This is a really nice one too.  Look at the braided edge.

Be back soon with a stitching update.

Christie

Some Stitching

I noticed today I have 13 followers.  Cool!  Not only is 13 one of my favorite numbers (7 is the other favorite) but there are folks out there who actually want to see what I have to say.  I thought when I started this blog I would just be talking to myself. 

I promised the other night I would post a picture of a recent finish (not a good picture.  it has been overcast and raining here all week).  Unfortunately it is not a finish I get to keep.  I am going on a weekend retreat and there is going to be an exchange.  I stitched this little fob.  I am in a Fall mood.  I sure hope whomever gets it likes it.  Mom sewed it together for me this past weekend.  This is a freebie chart I found on this blog  Cross Stitch Happy.  There are some really nice freebies on this blog.  I picked my own colors and added green and orange beads to the inside border.

On a side note, the picture in the background is of me and my great grandmother.  Nanny was a hat milliner for some big department stores in New York City.  In this picture is is working on some dolls.

It has been a very stressfull week at work and with the girls going back to school.  Hubby comes home from Germany on Saturday....YESSSS!!!!!!   I know I will be ok once I get to the retreat tomorrow night, but right now I am really not ready to go away.  Guess I better get my butt in gear and get packing.   

Christie

Randomness...

School starts tomorrow.  I will have one in 10th grade and one in 8th grade.  They cut busing for my high schooler, so this week we get to figure out how to deal with that and still work.  I am sure something will get figured out (like me finally finding a new job).

Hubby is in Germany and his training seems to be going well.  He comes home Saturday.  I can't wait I feel so lost without him.

House is somewhat clean and the grocery shopping is done.  Bought some fun purple nail polish today.  I think I need happy toes.

Cooler weather is here finally.  The spiders are coming in already and the squirrels are scrambling like crazy......usually an indication it will be a hard winter.  

The three day weekend has been long and tedious.  Have not been able to settle myself.  I hope the up coming stitching retreat this weekend will be good for me.  I just need to have some quiet time.  Now what to stitch.....

I will post a recent small stitch finish tomorrow.

Talk to you soon.

Christie

Run Away...

...and for heavens sake put your shoes back on!

There was a snake inside the building at work today.  It was in the hallway between the bathroom and the conference room.  I am so glad I was not the one to find it.  I am terrified of snakes,  (note to self, maybe that is WHY you do not stitch Adam and Eve samplers?????) and I do not want them anywhere near me even if there is glass between us at the zoo.   This one was pretty small, around 8" or 9".  Apparently someone saw him slither behind the door that divides the two halves of the building from the lobby.  They cornered it and tried to scoot him into a box but he was not having it and was trying to bite all involved.  One of the big wigs from the other side of the building finally came and grabbed him right up (despite being bitten) and put his little butt back outside (do snakes have butts?????) with the rest of the creepy crawlies (like the lizards...yes we have little lizards in southwest  Ohio.  Another big YUCK!!!).

A lot of us take our shoes off while sitting in our offices and will occasionally walk to the printer (next cube over) without the shoes going back on.  WELL, thought occurred to myself and the lady I sit next too that we could easily have stepped on above mentioned creepy with our shoeless feet.   Ewwwwweeee.   So I think I will keep my shoes on all the time, at least for a little while...

We actually have a BIG creepy that lives in our back yard.  It is a 4 foot long black snake.  One day my dear hubby opened the shed door and the snake was crawling up the door.  It almost fell on poor hubby.  I saw hit jump back and ran so fast back to the house.  My poor Indi dog went running after me until she hit the end of her lead.  YES, I was a good MaMa and went back for my baby to save her from the big snake that of course was not wheres near her or me.  We both went into the house and from the safety of the screen door hollered out to hubby to inquire about how BIG the creepy was.  Hubby said longer than his leg and about 3" thick.  I have not been to far into the backyard since.   I am a HUGE chicken when it comes to snakes, frogs, toads and lizards.  If you have fur, feather even quills I am good with you (ok, exceptionally hairy men and big hairy spiders do gross me out and so do the bugs will a million legs).  Generally a l love all critters.  I have learned to deal with the worms when I am gardening as long as I don't have to touch them.  The same with fish and our Mr. Turtle.  I like them as long as I don't have to touch or eat them.

The girls have two weeks until school starts.  I guess this weekend we will go get some of their supplies.  Then it will be rush to get haircuts and a few more pairs of shorts that are "school appropriate".   The school has no A/C so jeans are not going to be worn for at least a month or two. 

Hubby goes to Germany for work the same week schools starts.  He is a bit nervous about this.  The only other time he has left the country was many years ago when he went to England, also for work.  Wish I could go with him.  I have never been out of the country, not even to Canada.

On the stitching front, my model stitching is coming to a close.  I have one and a half motifs to stitch and then it can make the trek back across the country.   It is such a cute design.  I am ready for Fall stitching so I think I will do a few small things here and there before I start the sampler I am going to stitch for the Historical Society.  I also need to finish my LHN "Liberty" piece.   I also want two of the new BBD Halloween charts very badly, so I may need to stash a little and then the "to do" pile might get shifted a little.  Of course I also have to make 3 Christmas exchange ornaments to.....(Big SIGH).  I wonder if I could take a short leave from work to do nothing but stitch and watch movies all day with my big girl, Indi.....pondering, pondering.....

Be back soon.

Christie

Another wonderful give-away

Come check out the wonderful giveaway at Raggedy Creations.  This is her first giveaway.  Just look at the cool penny rug she is having the contest for

Ok, you should all become a follower but not enter the contest 'cause I want to win this....tee hee hee, just kidding.

Christie

Weekend

Busy weekend I have had.  Friday night I was at the LNS stitching with my friends.  I did not get much stitching done.  I was tired and had a headache after working all day and the shop was on the warm side so I just did not have the motivation to stitch a ton.  I did get a couple of new threads just cause I liked the color and a new JBW Designs chart, "Squirrel". 

Saturday hubby and I pulled some weeds, ran to the grocery store, the Borders closing sale and Office Max.  While at Office Max I found this neat pencil pouch that I thought would be great to hold the little misc. things that get thrown in the bottom of my stitching bag (tape measure, clips, pen, stitching tools, small colored pencils, etc...).  It was under $3.00.

They came in several different colors but I went with the black.  It goes with any color stitching bag I may use and I have my OCD to deal with when it comes to things going together.

Saturday also brought some fun mail.  I bought this off e-bay (or the "bay of evil" as my friend Lisa calls it):

Of course I had to have it.  It is prim, is a crow, has a key, and has a picture of Edgar Allen Poe and the word "Nevermore" on it.  HOW COOL!!!  I have bought several birds from this seller and they are made so nicely.  The seller is Primpenny.

Today we got up super early, picked up my Dad and drove to Lawrenceburg, Indiana (about 30 minutes from here) for the monthly Antique Mart.  It rained early this morning so it was muddy and not all the vendor spaces were filled.  I did manage to find two things to bring home.

A witch star, #2 whiskey jug (not sure of the maker of this one.  I can't seem to find a good place to tell me about the marks on the stoneware I so dearly love). 

And we were not sure what this is but I LOVE it.  I am going to hand it in the kitchen and use it as a two holed shelf.  It is aged so nice.  The bottom and the middle pieces are metal and it looks as if the metal pieces are supposed to be moved in and out of the grooves.  Some kind of slicer I suppose.

 The rest of Sunday has been just being lazy and gearing up for the work week.   Work...UGGGHHHH!!!!!

Be back soon, 

Christie

Summer

I know it has been a long time since I made a good long post.  Sorry about that.  Summer just seems to be flying by.

June we celebrated six birthdays including both of my daughters.  My girls are two years and 12 days apart in age.  I now have a 15 and a 13 year old.  WHERE DID MY BABIES GO?????

June also brought a wonderful class by Ellen Chester of With My Needle.  Several friends and I put the class together.  Ellen taught her "Long May She Wave" class.  I just loved the class.  We not only stitched but we also had a wonderful history lesson about the flag.  If you ever get a chance to take a class from Ellen you will not be dissapointed.  My piece is at the finishers so when it come back I will post a picture.

Also in July we celebrated my sister's birthday and a trip to the G.I. doctor.  The doctor ordered  an upper G.I. with a small bowel follow through.  Pretty harmless test, but the barium made me sick all weekend.  He wants to do a colonoscopy and a bioposy, but I am putting that off for several months.  I not only need to get my nerve up but I also need more PTO time at work.

Over July 4th week my husband and I took the week off work.  We had a "staycation" again this year.  One of my favorite days that week was going to the Lawrenceburg monthly antique mart at the fairgrounds.  It was hot even at 8:30 in the morning, but I managed to find a few things I could not live without.  Yes, this is a dog crate I used to take the pictures on.  It is near the window with the best light in the house and well the dog wasn't using it at the time.

I am going to put a battery operated, grungy candle in the old grain scoop. 

I looked up the mark on the bottom of the pewter bowl and it said the earliest was from 1928.  I just love the shape of this piece and I think I am going to put some fake apples (or pumpkins for the Fall and shiny christmas balls for Christmas) in it.

 I LOVE stoneware and this is just the prettiest dark blue.  There are not chips or cracks in it. 

The flag is not old just aged.  It was only five dollars and I could not pass it up.  I knew I wanted to drape it over the edge of this shelf.  It is pefect.

The antique mart is this weekend.  I hope I can talk hubby into taking me again.   I only have a few more months before it stops for the winter.  October is the last month it will run until the Spring.

I have been stitching, but I can't show you what cause it is a secret.  I am working on a model for Heartstring Samplery.  You can see some of her charts here Heartstring Samplery Esty.  The design is so cute.   I know you will all love it when she publishes it.

I did receive a wonderful package from my Secret Stitcher in the mail.  It was a Christmas in July package.  Aren't those measuring spoons cute as can be?

So far August seems pretty tame.  My Mom took my Grandma back to Mass. to stay with my Aunts.  Grandma stays in Cincinnati for half the year and the other half in Bedford.  She is 93 and still fiesty.

We have one month until school starts for the girls.  They start school the week of Labor Day. 

Thanks for sticking it out to the end of my long post.  I will post again soon.

Christie

Giveaway at the Rusty Thimble

Hi everyone.  Head on over to the Rusty Thimble for a wonderful giveaway she is having.  You should also check out her Esty shop.  It is filled with wonderful prim things.

Be back soon with a longer post of what I have been up to this summer.

Christie

A finish

Just a short post to show a piece I finished stitching recently.  Sorry for all the wrinkles.  I quickly snapped a picture before I gave it to my Mom for Easter. 

Bee True

Goode Huswife

I am currently working on "Liberty" from Little House Needleworks.  It is a fun and fast stitch.  I have not had much energy this week to stitch.  I do hope to find some down time this weekend.  Fingers crossed.

Christie

Been Awhile

I know it has been awhile since I last posted.  Where has the past month gone?

I have gotten a little bit of stitching done and I am currently working on "Bee True" by The Goode Huswife.  I love her charts and wish she was still designing or at the very least her charts were not so hard to find.  I have been looking for a copy of "Blyer House" for a very long time.

I have been doing Weight Watchers for a month now and I am down a little over six pounds.  I wish it was more but with the Fibromyalgia and IBS, it is hard to get out and walk some days.

I recently got this shelf at a wonderful store near me.  Today DH hung it up for me and I put a few things I have collected and stiched on it.  I love pewter things.  When I bought the shelf that is what I had in mind to do with it was put my tiny collection of pewter on it.  I think it turned out ok.

It is over 80 degrees today.  We have all the windows open and there is such a nice breeze blowing in.  I am going to finish the laundry and then sit and stitch on "Bee True" for a bit before I cook supper.   I will get a picture posted of my finished stitching hopefully this week if all goes well.

Hugs,

Christie

New Me

If you remember the very first post I made one of my New Year's resolutions was to lose weight.  This morning I signed up for Weight Watchers.  Mom and I are going to our first meeting tomorrow afternoon.  I did Weight Watchers probably 10 years ago.  I lost 30 pounds in 4 months.  I hope to have good success again. 

No stitching to show right now.  I have been in a slump.  Work is so very frustrating and really bringing me down big time and has gotten me so depressed I just don't want to do anything.  Maybe I will find some time and motivation to put some stitches in this weekend.

Christie

Backyard Friends

We live in the suburbs around 25 miles East of Cincinnati.  We have trees and a steep drop off in our backyard.  The drop off leads to a creek some more trees and then a busy road.   It always amazes me to see the amount of wildlife we get at this house in a neighborhood compared to when we lived out in a small, small country town.   We have raccoons, owls, deer, foxes, opossums, skunk (Indigo met the skunk up front and personal two years ago...YUCK!!!!!), all kinds of birds - including hawks, turkey vultures and many different kinds of woodpeckers, lots of squirrels and of course the usual icky critters like toads and snakes.  Did I mention that a 4 ft. long 3 in. thick snake almost feel on my husband's head when he opened the shed door last summer?  The snake was crawling up the door when Jay opened it.  Of course I took off running to the house......YES I AM A CHICKEN!!!  I love critters, just not the slithery and amphibious kind. 

I thought I would share some pictures we took a couple of weeks ago of our deer feeding from the corn in the back yard.  After they all came up from the creek we had a total of 10.  I just love the twins.

Here is a picture from this past spring of one of our baby red foxes.  There were 4 of them.  Mama brought them up everyday and they played in the backyard and ran around the shed chasing each other.  They were so fun to watch.  They came for several months and then they all left and went their own ways.  We could never get a good picture of their faces.  He/she was standing on a small leaf pile we made out behind the shed.

I just love seeing all the critters and the nature.  Someday I am going to move to the woods, live in a log cabin, sit on my porch and just enjoy the peace, quiet and beauty that exists in this world.  For now I will just enjoy my not so quiet but still beautiful piece of the world.

Christie

Missing in Action

Since my last post I have:

• Had a cold
• Gone to a stitching retreat
• Started the "Elizabeth Easton" sampler by the Goode Huswife
• Celebrated my 40th birthday

The cold was not fun and I was down for a week with it.  At least it was the week before the retreat.

The retreat was great fun.  We were there from Thursday night until Sunday morning.  Our LNS puts this retreat on in January every year.  This year I think there were over 70 people in attendance.  There are no classes, just stitching, a little shopping (LNS brings trunk shows and a whole bunch of other goodies for us to spend our Christmas money on) and lots of laughing.  Here are two snaps of the stash I got:

On the retreat and last week during my birthday I also received some great birthday gifts from my wonderful friends.  They all spoiled me rotten.  Jenny gave me a "Stitch Happy" water bottle.  I dink lots of water, so it was perfect.  Adele gave me a great pair of Valentine's day socks and the above Lion chart.  Lisa made me two wonderful zippered fabric pouches that hold me stitching project and floss/tools.  Marsha gave me a pretty, pretty piece of linen to stitch a snowman chart for my oldest daughter on.  Linda sent me a needle threader and Meem gave me a very tasty piece of pie.  Like I said I was SPOILED ROTTEN.  I have such wonderful friends.

My husband and daughters sent flowers to work and gave me this beautiful paw print necklace:

Another post I will show you the alphabet sign that my parents, Aunts and Grandma gave me and the pottery candle holder my sister gave me.  We went to my Mom & Dad's yesterday for dinner and cake. My IBS and Firbomyalgia were both acting up, so I was not feeling the best, but had a nice time.  Mom read our tea leaves and it looks like bright happy things are finally coming my way.

Until next time, stitch and be happy.

Christie

New Year's Resolutions!

One of my resolutions this year is to actually post on the blog I created many months ago.  One down, more to go.

The rest of my resolutions this year are:

• Stitch more
• Finish the stitched pieces (either frame or sew into something
• Work on the decorating of my house
• Walk more and lose the "stress weight" I have gained (Indigo will love the more walking part)

I hope to get a little something stitchy started today for the traditional "start something new for the New Year".   I also need to decided on what I am going to take to a weekend retreat I am going on in two weeks.   You would think that will all the stitching stash and UFO's I have that would NOT be an issue, but it is.   I plan on staying in my P.J.s, watching movies and stitching. 

Here's to a wonderful New Year that will hopefully bring many completed resolutions to all.

Christie