my companion

I use this "device" for everything. It goes where I go. I never leave home without it. I was at a stitching weekend retreat a couple years ago and the lady next to me had the exact same thing with slight differences. I couldn't take my eyes off of it. It had everything that she'd ever need right at her finger tips. Just as quickly as it opens it can quickly close, which I love, because you don't have to necessarily put everything away when you're done for the night ~ it can all just get rolled up into one little package. I love my needle nook! It's a Susan Greening Davis design. I had to improvise though in its finishing. It came with the chart and the pink linen. I went to Michael's and found a piece of felt for the inside and I decided to finish my edges with fabric so I bought a fat quarter at Michael's as well. The design did not call for binding, but I didn't want a raw edge so I put my quilting skills to work and hand sewed binding to my needle nook. I purchased the buttons at my LNS and the little 'doo-dahs' (a Susan term) I purchased years ago from her. Everything else I had.

Needless to say, I was very proud of myself on this one. There were no instructions on most of this design, except for the stitching and one way to sew the felt on. Other than that, everything else was truly Julie's creation.

QSW

This past weekend was my first quick-stitch weekend with the Stacy Nash Groupies at Yahoo!. I decided to stitch the design 1-over-1 using DMC floss and plan to make it into a floss tag. I also plan on dying the fabric, but haven't decided on which method yet. This is my first attempt at this and I'm a little nervous. I hope it comes out alright. The photo is just the completed stitching. I still need to finish-finish it. I plan on using a light interfacing to give it some substance, but not much, and then I want to back it with fabric, which I have not picked out yet ~ hope to do that in the next day or so. This design was complimentary from The Sampler Girl through our SNG at Yahoo!.

design: Prim Friends Gather
by: The Sampler Girl
stitched by: Julie

saturday

Saturday was a very busy day. First, I am upset with Michael's, or at least my Michael's. My plan for Saturday was to go to Michael's to purchase frames. I had a 50% off coupon and it expired Saturday so this was my last chance to use it. I was pretty excited. I knew what I wanted, but I looked and looked and looked and I found nothing of what I read about on my Yahoo! group. I guess my g-friends have a better Michael's than I. I was just really upset. From now on, I think I may look for frames at Big Lots, Goodwill and/or a dollar store. I was really fed up after leaving Mike's.

I didn't totally leave empty handed. Oh no!!! I bought an 18"x21" piece of white, pre-eyelet lacy fabric with a beautiful floral vine as print. I have no idea what I'm going to use it for, but I didn't care. I had to have it! BUT, what I'm most excited about is that I purchased the Crop-A-Dile. This thing was $34.99 and I used my 50% coupon on it ~ Fantastic deal, wouldn't you say?!?! It may not be the BIG MAMA, but it is the BIG SISTER and I'm happy and cannot wait to start punching my way through stuff.

After Mike's I went to my LNS because of the neighborhood Holiday Happenings. At least 20 local business were having savings and specials and participating in charities. At my LNS, they showcased a local crafter who was displaying her many handmade crafts, one being her hand sewn Baked Potato Bag. There were several motifs to chose from. I didn't get one for myself, but I bought my mother one. She loves Tuscan-style decor and thought this was appropriate for her. The other side has grapes and fields and such (see photo below).

I also bought one skein of Crescent Colours - Bandana but I'm not going to photo that. I'm using it on a Little House Needleworks design. I'll post a progress report at some point with photos of my WIPS. I'm so behind right now. After the trip to my LNS I needed to go Krogering. I hate Krogers! In fact, I hate going to the grocery store in general. I digress; I finally made it home but not until 3:25, which was too late because I needed to be at my LNS for the Moonlight Stitching I was signed up for at 4:00. However, I hadn't seen Cameron all day and I needed to put away groceries, hug and love the baby, regroup my person, get my stuff together, and I had not eaten all day. (I left the house at 10:30 that morning.)

Finally, I made it to my LNS by 4:15. Not bad considering...but it also helps that the LNS is only 5 minutes from my home. YAY!!!! There were 2 new stitchers to the group. Their names were Julie and Jo and live in Nashville. They were pleasant and fun to stitch with. Jo was knitting socks and Julie was stitching up a pillow. My regular g-friends were there; Sally and Susan. We always have fun stitching together and we've grown closer over the last year, which fills my heart even more. In January 2009, Sally, Susan, my mother and I are going to St. Augustine, Florida for a Susan Greening Davis beach weekend getaway. We are so excited!!! I've been there once when I was pregnant with Cameron and had a really good time, but I also battled morning sickness and that wasn't fun on a plane, but the beach was fabulous - stitching by the beach is something everyone should add to their "bucket list." My friend, Sally, is a HUGE Jane Austen and tea drinking fan so I introduced her to The Sampler Girl. We were able to get online at the shop and I gave her a tour of Tanya's place. She loved it!

I had to browse the store, as always. You can't leave there and not make a purchase. There is nothing nicer than to skirt around your local shop after hours. It's wonderful!!! Before my introduction into primitive stitching I never thought to look for such items at the shop. Now that I'm quite aware and well informed that's all I looked for. I wanted to share what I bought. Unfortunately, I am on a budget and wasn't able to buy everything. I was able to buy one chart and a few little extra inexpensive things. Here are those items.

Basket for $10.00

Matte board for $.50 each

Frame for $1.00 (better than Michael's could offer)

This speaks for itself. I bought fabric, but not what was called for.

Embroidery iron-on transfers under $1.25. I couldn't pass this up ~ Colonial Girls, c'mon!!

Our make-it and take-it project. I actually finished mine this time. YAY!!

My Moonlight Stitching experience: PRICELESS!

The evening ended at 10:00 and I went home. The DH was babysitter this day and night. Unfortunately, when I got home I had a house to clean...back to being mom again!

quick post

Hi everyone! It's Sunday night, 11:40 and I am bushed. I have so much to tell about Saturday and today. Unfortunately, things didn't go as I had wanted, but some things did go as planned. I just wanted to pop in and let everyone know that I will post more Monday. I have so much to share.

Nighty-night everyone!

game of tag, anyone???

I have been tagged by Petra to share 6 things about my annoying little self. The rules are as follows:

Rule #1 ~ Link to the person that tagged you.
Rule #2 ~ Post the rules on your Blog.
Rule #3 ~ Write 6 random things about yourself.
Rule #4 ~ Tag 6 people at the end of your post.
Rule #5 ~ Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their Blog.
Rule #6 ~ Let the tagger know your entry is up.


This is going to be a lot harder than I thought it would be. I'm so much an open book that it's difficult to come up with things that people don't know. Some of these "things" most people know about me, but there might be some that aren't known.


Julie thing #1 ~ I can do an impression/call/sound of a wild turkey and it's dead on too.
Julie thing #2 ~ I'm almost a germophobe.
Julie thing #3 ~ I have 4 tattoos and my naval pierced (my tongue was pierced, but I removed it).
Julie thing #4 ~ I love a man in uniform; cops, firemen, military men - YUMMY!!!
Julie thing #5 ~ I still haven't had the film developed from my wedding...the wedding was 3 1/2 years ago. (oops)
Julie thing #6 ~ I can shoot and handle a gun.

I am now ordered (heehee) to tag 6 lovely people. Don't blame me, blame Petra! (just kidding Petra - hugs all around you, girl). I have carefully selected my chosen ones. Here is my list of women I'd like to see 6 things about:

Tanya
Carol
Nancy
Barbara
Betty
Mary Kathryn

quilt talk

I learned how to machine quilt 4-5 years ago from my Aunt Pam. Unfortunately, I haven't made too many quilts since then. Funnily enough, by learning to quilt I also learned new and different ways to "finish" projects ~ not just on quilts. For instance, the one quilt I did complete was for my late mother-in-law, Barbara, or Barb as I called her. I made it for her for Christmas one year. I hand sewed the binding and by learning that step I have been able to use that same technique and complete scissor fobs, needlebooks and many other smalls.

The quilt I made is called Friendship Star ~ my very first completed quilt ever. The colors are some of her favorites ~ she loved fall time. After her death, my FIL gave the quilt back to its creator which I'm glad he did. After many MIL/DIL debates we actually became friends and not just a "married to the family" kind of relationship. I felt it appropriate to make a quilt that represented her colors, her favorite season and our blossoming friendship. I miss her so much!

I have other finished and unfinished quilts to share, which I'll share at another time, but I needed to get Barb's quilt out there. There are other WIPS that will require the quilting techniques I learned from my very talented Aunt to which I owe a great amount of gratitude. Without these lessons and many, many long distance quilt chats, I would only have half the knowledge I possess about quilts...and finishing.

parent/teacher/student meeting

Today DH and I had a meeting with Jose's teachers and Jose. Lately we've been struggling to get Jose to complete his homework and turning those assignments in. Every year we seem to have this issue, but by the end of the school year things turn around and look bright again. Jose always passes, but as the school year goes on he tends to get lazy and chooses not to do his work. He acts like school is an option instead of a mandatory part of life. He can do the work. He would be a straight-A student, but he is choosing not to do the work.

I hate these types of meetings. It's difficult sitting there with teachers around and trying to find a resolution to your child's setbacks. It's heartbreaking when things don't go the way you hoped they would for your child(ren). I've always told Jose that he has two responsibilities as a child. 1) go to school and do your work, and 2) have fun and be a kid; enjoy your childhood.

Anyway, the meeting was a success and ended on positive notes. We just hope that Jose took from it what we took from it. Jose is such a good kid. I'm sure most mothers say this about their child(ren) whether they are or not, but Jose is a really good kid. I've never met a child as compassionate and caring as Jose. He cares about others before he begins to care about himself. He worries so when others are struggling or are ill. He either wants to do something nice or buy a feel-good gift. He's remarkable in such a way that I've never seen.

School story...When Jose was in 2nd grade he had a wonderful teacher named Mrs. Vinson ~ Jose had her 3 times throughout elementary. He probably had a bit of a crush on her in the end. When she was pregnant with her first child Jose was the only student she had that asked her how she was doing, how she was feeling and how her unborn baby was. She knew at that point that Jose was special and that he was the most loving little boy she had ever met. On his very last day of elementary school, Mrs. Vinson pulled us aside and said to us "I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but I feel compelled to. Out of all my students over the last 4 years I am going to miss Jose the most. He's been my little guy". We really appreciated Mrs. Vinson for telling us this. During those past four years Jose matured on so many levels. Jose had many ups and downs, and he endured more pain than most boys his age and we believe that because of her Jose became a better student, a better person, a better kid. We know Jose misses her to this day and he'll never forget her. We miss Mrs. Vinson too.

early birds did not get the worms

This morning the entire household got off to a rocky start. We ALL woke up late. DH and Jose didn't leave for work and school until 7:10 a.m. and they need to leave by 7:00. I never heard the alarm clock and neither did anyone else. I had to scramble to get lunch prepared for Jose and we didn't even have time to make coffee. I know, I know...we should set the coffee maker to brew and have it ready the night before, but we just didn't this time. Shame on us!

Let's back up some shall we...Cameron decided to start crying loudly at 5:20 a.m., and he was so upset that we allowed him to get into bed with us. Since it was close to alarm-buzzing time it wouldn't hurt letting him in our bed for just under an hour ~ so snug as a bug he went. BUT he didn't want to go back to sleep just yet. No, he wanted to roll around and kick us in the face a few times, then he decided passing out was a good thing. DH woke me and it was 6:55 a.m. Up I sprang from bed (like on Christmas morning) and ran to the kitchen. I didn't quite familarize myself with where my baby was and I began making Jose's lunch. I then thought "where's my baby? He's awfully quiet." DH tells me he's still in bed sleeping. WHAT? That little guy caused all this mess and he's still sleeeeeeeeeeeeeping!!! The nerve of some people! :o)

stitching weekend

This weekend is going to be a busy stitching weekend, hopefully. This weekend at my LNS there is a Moonlight Stitching Saturday night. They only have these evenings quarterly and are from 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. (I wished they were every month). There is all kinds of food, giggles, good company and we get a make-it and take-it. I can't wait! This would be an excellent time to stitch on my QSW piece ~ I may even get it completed with 6 hours of uninterrupted time. Hmmmmmmm...

Also this weekend, a local area near my home called the Berry Hill District is having a Holiday Happenings with almost 20 businesses of various sorts participating. In addition, there is a wonderful charity called Soles 4 Souls that the local businesses are collecting for. I wished I had known this earlier because I donated over a dozen shoes to Goodwill...shucks!!! The Berry Hill Community is about 4-5 blocks of close-knit shop owners and small restaurants. It's a great little place to walk around and shop. In addition to the Holiday Happenings, my LNS is also having a local crafter in-store displaying and selling her craft-wares. I'll have to check this out though as I have no idea what type of craft this lady brings. This happens from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. in Berry Hill. Immediately afterwards, Moonlight Stitching starts. This is going to be quite the Saturday in Berry Hill and at the shop.

I have finally picked which piece to stitch for the QSW and have gathered my floss and fabric for the occasion. Since I'm new to primitive stitching and have very little quick stitch pieces I have decided to stitch one of the freebies I received from The Sampler Girl through our Stacy Nash Group at Yahoo! (SNG at Yahoo!). The freebie is called Prim Friends Gather. I figured since this is our SNG's first QSW, I find it appropriate to stitch this piece since we're friends getting together and stitching our quick stitches. Tanya is such a gifted designer and generous with her work. Check out Tanya's blog as well. She always has something going on and she's definitely worth reading.

Prim Friends Gather
by The Sampler Girl
stitched by Linda in VA

my veteran

Marion A. Tripp (March 18, 1916-February 7, 1993)

Today I am observing this day for my Grandfather, Marion A. Tripp, a veteran and survivor of WWII stationed in the South Pacific. He was a gifted man and a special Grandpa. He passed away when I was 17 and I wished that I could have known him better; known him longer. Grandpa was a good Grandpa. He would let me sit on his lap when I wanted and he was patient with me. In my mind, he was loving, nurturing and kind.

I have family keepsakes in a curio cabinet in my home that has been passed down to me by relatives. I cherish my family deeply and I miss my Grandpa tremendously. I wish he were alive to meet my sons; his Great-Grandchildren. I think about Grandpa each week of my life. I have so many wonderful memories of him and today they flood my mind and swell my heart. I cannot wait to see him again.

These are my thoughts and memories of my Grandpa.

~ true American
~ conviction in his beliefs
~ unwavering
~ “Duke”
~ Cincinnati Reds
~ baseball on the radio
~ Camel cigarettes
~ handyman, craftsman
~ bird watcher and squirrel admirer (and they liked him)
~ red sweater, blue corduroy pants
~ eyeglass case in left breast pocket
~ humble
~ quiet
~ man of few words
~ father of 3 girls



~ musically gifted
~ painter, artist
~ Republican
~ slapping the back of the neck and rubbing fingers
~ Indian “powder” dance
~ funny
~ “Laugh-in”
~ “The Lawrence Welk Show”

~ witty, intelligent, quick
~ gas station
~ playing with tools and getting yelled at for it
~ basement workshop
~ Ronald Reagan
~ 5555 Bosworth
~ “a city within a city”
~ 244th Air Squadron, U.S. Army
~ railroad train
~ eating purple cows together
~ war veteran
~ a hero
~ “Jesus Christ Himself couldn’t please that woman” (famous Grandpa quote)







~ strong
~ “Hee-Haw”
~ Patsy Cline’s “Crazy”
~ flying spaghetti
~ “our children aren’t supposed to die before us”
~ Mr. Fix-it
~ home-body
~ swing and big band
~ stubborn
~ patriotic

Grandpa with Santa Claus (that's my biological father being Saint Nick).

Me and my Grandpa.

Grandpa with one of his squirrel buddies.

Me and my Grandpa hanging out in his chair.

I love you, Grandpa! I miss you! Happy Veteran's Day.