Hello Spring!

Wow! It's been a while since I posted, but I've been keeping busy ... not only with the baby and life as a military wife in general, but I've managed to get some projects done as well.

A few years ago I had found this Spring Flower pattern by Lizzie Kate. In anticipation of Easter, I had the time to alter it a little with some of my favorite Spring colors and created this table runner.




(corners)


(center)

I started it at the beginnig of April with the goal of getting it complete for Easter ... I finished it the Saturday before- talk about close!

After Easter, I decided I liked it so much I wanted to make a dish towel with the same pattern, though I altered it a bit.



Here is the sample photo posted with the pattern link at Lizzie Kate.



Well, now that the baby is asleep, I'm headed off to work on a quilt for the guest bedroom ...

Until our next cup of tea ...

Just the numbers, please!

Military life has a way of forcing you to look at life through a different pair of glasses. Time is measured in deployment cycles, friends are characterized by the military installation you met them, and a house is designed around what you were able to find when you moved. The important things are determined by what you take with you versus what you allow the movers to take ... in hopes that you'll see it again in less than 6 weeks!

Now this is what I've become accustomed to, but the other day I notice a similarity between military life and crafting. Now, I know you're probably thinking, "Where is she going with this?"

Well, as a military spouse, you often learn to cope with the stress, seperation and rollercoaster life ... for me, I participate in a variety of crafts ... cross stitching, quilting, scrapbooking and organizing.

Well, the other day, while hubby was finishing up a conference somewhere to the north of us (which being in S. Florida could be anywhere, I guess!), I went to Lowe's to finally get the pegs for the bookshelf that had gotten lost when we moved here 15 months ago. With a baby soon to arrive, it was not a priority at the time, and life since then has been a little hectic. So I finally got around to it because with hubby gone, I had planned to box up most of the books which were from when I was finishing my masters and the leftover "professional development books" he had from the Army but he isn't using at this assignment. My goal was to use it for books on the top and organizing crafts on the bottom.

So anyway, while I was there I was looking at paint samples which I use in the house book (another story) so that when we are buying furniture, moving, etc. I can make sure that everything is matching as close as possible. So the associate asked me if I was looking for a particular color.

"Oh, I'd been thinking about painting the kitchen," I said, though it wouldn't be until our next move.

"Well, what color are you looking for?," he asked.

"DMC 535, is what I want for the walls, but its accented with 3716," I replied, not even thinking about it.

After a moment of silence, I turned and looked at him and the confusion on his face was evident.

"Oh, I'm sorry," I said with a laugh, "I've been handstitching some kitchen towels. Its a medium grey and a light pink."

"Oh, he said with a laugh, "well, those are over here."

I thanked him and grabbed a sample or two of the grey. "I guess you think I'm a little crazy," I said, as I turned to go get the furniture pegs.

"No really," he replied. "My wife picks colors by shoes designers. At least you're makes sense."

I walked away laugh and thought to myslef, I'm sure it all seems to make sense in our heads, its once you say it out loud that you start to wonder ...

Until our next cup of tea ...

While away, a crafter will play ...

So I know I've been away a while, but I've got a lot of things going on. Among other things, I've gotten a few projects completed.

One goal that I had this year was to stitch a kitchen towel for each holiday. They usually only take a few days to make so, here's a look at what's been keeping me sane ...

This was a quick Valentine's Day towel. I stitched much of it while I flew to Houston for a quick weekend trip.



This one was a favorite. It was actally a freebie pattern from Accent's Inc., called Jester Face. It didn't have a color legend, you were able to pick your own colors and make it unique.



This one was a fun one. It was another freebie from Penelopis' Cross Stitch Freebies. Its a wonderful site with BEAUTIFUL patterns, I think she's got some amazing stuff and can't wait to get more done.



I did it in the bright pink that I have splashed throughout the kitchen. Eventually, I'd love to do white on a soft grey for my office. I think it would e so pretty in white frames. If anyone has suggestions for where I'd find some fabric, please let me know.

Lastly, this one took a bit of time. First I had to convert the colors from specialty threads listed on the pattern, then I was stitching on it intermittently as I was stitching the others because its "fall-ish" and its hard to get in the mood of "darks" when Spring is just around the corner. Eventually, I'll do a few more in the freebie series and as soon as I find the website, I'll post it.



Well, I'm off to get more blogging done (on our family site so my parents can see pics of their No. 1 grandchild!)

Happy crafting,

Monkey Business ...

Wow! Its been a while since I've posted on here hasn't it!?!

Well a lot has been happening ... Our little guy has celebrated his first Christmas and first birthday. Unfortunately, I didn't get his Christmas stocking finished, but I'll post and update on that later. I did get to finish some other things for him.

First, this was part of his Christmas stocking ... its a towel and (will) have a matching bib. (I'm having trouble finding all white toddler bibs. They all have stars or some other design on them that I have found either girly or baby-ish!)



He absolutely loved it and dragged it around for a while. Thanks to Meari @ Meari's Musings for finding the monkey pattern for me! You don't know how much I love it! I'm trying to think of other projects to use it on!

For his first birthday this past week (2-9) I made both a towel and bib for him!









Well, I'm off to clean a little so I can do some more crafty stuff when lil Monkey takes his afternoon nap.

Christmas Stocking Update ... Week 11

It's begining to look like Christmas ...

Well, I can see the end in sight, but still got lots to do before we can fill it with goodies. I got a little more done this week. I'd hoped to be further this week, but I didn't like the letters in the original pattern so I spent a little time looking through other books and stuff for ones I liked, then last night I found them ... in the pattern before this stocking in the same book!

This week was also Veteran's Day so hubby had a 4-day holiday and we spent some family time together. He even went with me to the craft store on Friday (Michael's) and Saturday (JoAnn's) so I could pick up some stuff I need for the stocking and to make my nieces a little present for the holidays. My brother is self-employed and they had their first baby 3 months after Jamie ... my mom's second grandchild, a girl! My younger half-sisters, whom he and his wife adopted shortly after they got married and are now considered "nieces" are in college (2) and high school (2), so they voted to just get one big family gift this year instead of individual gifts. Mom makes afgans like crazy, so she's going to pull some that she finished and put away for them. Anyway, they're really great girls and have been a great help to my brother and sister-in-law after a difficult pregnancy, so I wanted to surprise them with something. (My SIL has muscular dystrophy and was off her feet starting at about 3 months I think.)

Anyway, back to the stocking, now I'm ready to get the header done this week and hopefully some of the face ... UGH! I hate the intricacies of faces ... all those half and quarter stitches! Oh, well, hopefully this time next week it'll be over ... then I can concentrate on finishing the filler parts and then the dreaded backstitching!

Week 11 (Nov. 14)

Until our next cup of tea ...

Christmas Stocking Update ... Weeks 9 & 10

Week 10 (Nov. 7)

Well I didn't post a photo last Sunday (Oct. 31) since I hadn't gotten anything done that week. We joined Baby Jamie's godparents at DisneyWorld for Halloween weekend. But that following week I more than made up for it! I feel like I'm in the homestretch now. I just have the face (UGH!), nameplate and filling in to do, to do, then the outlining and sew it into shape! I'll probably be cutting it close, but as long as he has it for Christmas theres no use stressing the rest.

Tote-ally Out of Control!

So I finally had time to sit down and play with the sewing & embroidery machine that my husband got me for Christmas. Well, actually, I've been sewing on it sporatically for the past 10 months (as I can fit in now that the baby is getting more mobile.)

Well, I'd only been able to try out the embroidery part once before and I couldn't figure out why the tension was too loose causing big loops during stitching. When my mom came to visit in August she looked it over and I learned I was using the wrong thread weight. Whew! That's an easy fix!

Well, I'm finally getting around to trying it again and "Voila!" it worked! I was embroidering like a fool the last three last night!a Anything I could get my hands on. I actually "destroyed" a neatly organized and color coded bin of fabric looking for anything to embroider on! Unfortunately, I ony had one bobbin left and filled it with the orange I wanted to use for Baby Geo's Halloween tote, so Halloween orange it was!

First I practiced a little and then did a Halloween towel for the kitchen ...



It turned out so cute I got started ... I made his tote, then me a tote, and since I had more orange floss left ... I made a Halloween tote for his godmother & aunt, Mindy. (Since she doesn't visit thie blog I can post it. We surprise her with it tomorrow!) Here they are ...

Baby Geo's Halloween bag

My Halloween "boo" bag

(front)



(back)

Aunt Mimi's Halloween tiny tote (front & back)

I had so much fun, I looked through my fabric bin and decided to make myself the every day tote I'd been planning but never found time for. I got to play around with some decorative stitches and created a one-of-a-kind pink and chocolate tote, measuring just over 16 inches wide and just shy of 16 inches tall. What do you think?





I have a little "perfecting" to do on the tote, but once I get it figured out I think I'll make one for Mindy and my niece Stepha, my mini-me, for Christmas. I'll post pics when I do.

Until our next cup of tea ...

Christmas Stocking Update ... Week 8

Just chuggin' along! I'm trying to enjoy it rather than panic over how much time I have left. Here is this week's update.

Week 8 (Oct. 25, 2010)

Until our next cup of tea ...

Christmas Stocking Update ... Week 7

So another week has gone by, and though I didn't get as much done as I wanted I was happy that I got some time on it. I'm hoping that maybe the next two weeks will have some progress because 1.) The children's playgroup I lead is cancelled for Halloween activities at the location and 2.) I really need to get it done!

Here is this week's progress:



Until our next cup of tea ...

Works in Progress: Cross Stitching

So here is a more indepth list (and some photos) of my cross stitch WIPs. As I was collecting photos for the post I found even more than the original post listing them! Yikes!

Jamie’s Christmas Stocking: hoping to get done in the next few weeks! Various posts recently showing progress.

Army Seal: started in summer 2002, but am stitching on 22-count over 2, set it aside for something more relaxing on the eyes. I have about 85-90% done, but last worked on it every day the 3 months my father-in-law was in the hospital. After he passed it was hard to look at, so it went to the closet. This will be the hardest to complete. (Photo taken: 11/14/2008)



Daisy Tablecloth: this is one of my favorites, but since it is a repeating pattern I usually alternate with other projects. I lost it for a minute when we moved, but found it just as I was starting Jamie's stocking. Definitely want to get it done before next spring. (Photo taken: 4/16/2010)



Rose Quilt Blocks: I bought these quilt blocks in hopes of making it for our spare bed, but then changed my mind. Want to finish and decide what to do with at that point. I think there are 6 panels. (Photo taken: 10/17/2010)



"Lindsey" Stained Glass: This was actually an altered pattern. I think the stained glass was a holiday piece, so I found some lettering that I liked and decided to change it to our last name so we could display all year-long. A friend borrowed the book to stitch a stocking for her husband, but 3 years later returned the book having only done one for her son. Unfortunately the book was returned the week we were moving, so it is on a box somewhere since the craft room had already been packed. When I find to project, I'll post a photo.

Easter Bunny and Egg: My mom bought this pattern and I was excited when she asked me to do it for her, but then she bought those cheap varigated threads from Wal-Mart instead of the WDW specialty threads and I HATE stitching it, but it's been 5 years and she keeps pestering me, so hopefully I can muster the strength to finish for this year. (Photo taken: 1/18/2009)



Roly Poly Santas: I loved these! They were in a cross-stitch magazine and I fell in love. Unfortunately I had one of those totes that you can put photos in, and Sgt. Major took offense to the dog (him) on the bag and pulled if off the closet door and chewed through the bag and one of the Santas while I was at work. I couldn't figure out how to repare the rip, so I set it aside, but hope to finish for next Christmas. (Photos taken: 8/19/2007)









12 Small Christmas Ornaments (former SAL): I am HORRIBLE at stitch-a-longs! Please don't ever let me join. I do good the first month or so, then life happens and I NEVER finish! Maybe that's why every time I do an exchange I send off my piece (I'm good when its for other people) but never get one myself. This has happened 4 time! Anyway, I was doing an ornament one the first two are completed ... the third one, not so much ... and number 4-12 never got started! They are small and its a great set so I am determined to get them done! (Photos taken: 10/17/2010)





Watermelon Dish Towel: a free pattern than came with the towel purchase. I started this one last year and it got packed up in the move from Georgia to Florida. I was stitching on it when we were driving back and forth to Houston (from Florida) for the baby shower last Novemeber, so when I find it, I'll post a photo.

Candy Cane Dish Towel: another free pattern that came with the towel purchase. It was lost among the packing when we move from Louisiana to Georgia (see a pattern?)



Heart Ornaments: I actually just found these. I'd completely forgotten. When my husband was deployed the first time in 2005, I would stitch these when I'd got hide out at my Father-in-laws on weekends. We were only 3 hours away and he was the only one who truly understood what I was going through. I guess I'll finish these up for our red, white and gold tree. (Photos taken: 10/17/2010)





Well, that's the cross stitching WIPs, at least the ones I am aware of. It has taken me 23.5 hours to complete this post! If I find more projects I'll definately post. Soon I will add the sewing WIPs, some of which are cross stitch patterns that need to be "finished".

Until our next cup of tea ...