interview

I received five interview questions from Michelle and here are my answers to them:

1. What is one lesson you've learned in your lifetime (or are trying to learn), that you'd like to pass on to others? It can’t be everybody else. This is a motto I heard as a child and continue to use now. I’ve already learned the lesson ~ my mother taught it to me. I always take full responsibility for my actions and words. I have no problems apologizing either. Most people blame others for their misfortunes or wrongdoings and it’s wrong and immoral. People need to be accountable for their actions no matter what the cost. Better to have a clean conscience than a guilty one.

2. What Chinese Zodiac sign were you born under, and do you think the description suits you? http://chinese.astrology.com/ The Chinese Zodiac says I’m the rabbit. I would say that the description given is only about 10% accurate. If you read the Sagittarius sign, that is more of an accurate description into my personality. The number one description given on the Chinese Zodiac that is entirely wrong is that we avoid confrontation and arguments and can be somewhat of a pushover. That is completely wrong!!! I am quite the opposite. I'll fight with anyone.

3. What was your favorite stitching project and why? My favorite project was the January through December Flip-its by Lizzie*Kate back in 2004-2005. Instead of stitching each month individually I combined all 12 months on one piece of linen to make a calendar. I have them stitched 3 months across, 4 rows down. This is my favorite because it was my first BIG project ever and I was proud of myself.

4. How has the election and inauguration of our new President affected you? Any thoughts on what you hope to see in the next four years? The inaugural process is a tradition in this country and is extremely fascinating to watch and experience – let that be known. I won't deny that this inauguration was historical - there's no doubt about it. However, I am not in support of Barack Obama and never will be. Do I hope he makes the right choices for our nation and for others? Of course, I do ~ I want nothing but the best, but I have no confidence that he will bc he wants to take this country into a direction we don't want to go in. He sees our world differently than I do and the things he wants to take place are wrong in my opinion. His views and direction are not what this country needs. I was numb while watching the events unfold and cried at times. I'm going to be sick the next four years.

5. What's in your Netflix queue (or movies you've been wanting to see)? I had to cancel my trial with Netflix and really didn’t want to. I can barely remember what was in queue at this point. I would like to see The Reader, Them, The Unborn, The Mummy 3, Jane Austen flicks, Dexter Season 3, and there are lots more, but they escape me at the moment.

Thanks for reading!

Today's stitching: Sarah's ABC Pincushion

Watching today: LOST; Death Race

looky here

I just received a lovely and totally surprising gift in the mail. I see that it is from my Aunt Pam in Ohio. Several days ago she said she sent something to me in the mail and that it wasn't much - just a little something - but that she saw it and thought of me. I opened the package and to my complete surprise I pulled out a huge piece of 1800's reproduction fabric. It's white and blue stripes, just like the old Civil War type pillowcases. I absolutely adore this with ALL my heart. I was flabbergasted really. I will have to come up with something spectacular for this fabric ~ it's just so unique and special to me. My aunt's note to me, "Julie, I thought you might enjoy this! Love, Aunt Pam". Well, I more than enjoy this. I positively love this piece! Thank, thank, thank you for this fabric!

Also...

...here is my progress on Sarah's ABC Pincushion by Blackbird Designs that I began last night. I am really loving how the silk coordinates with the Cafe Kona linen. It's getting to be very pretty when it's done.

By Friday morning, I'll be on a plane heading for Florida ~ I am counting down the days! WooHoo!!!

Today's Stitching: Sarah's ABC Pincushion; Be Still
Watching Today: 'Death Race'

another finish

I finished whip stitching the floss tag last night and put the eyelet on this morning. This was the make-it and take-it from moonlight stitching on Saturday. I believe this is my third finish for the year, but could be my fourth. How can I forget such an easy low number? I'm a mess.

Watercolour Heart
design by: Sekas & Co.
fabric: 10 ct White Tula
floss: CC - Watercolours Peach Sherbert; DMC Perle #5 351 & 776
stitches used: Smyrna, Knitted, Oblong vertical & horizontal
outcome: Floss Tag

Today's Stitching: Finished floss tag; continue stitching Sarah's ABC Pincushion
Watching: 2009 Inauguration

blushing boy

My son, Jose, was completely surprised today when his Papa took him to meet country singer Sarah Buxton. My dad works for Disney's Lyric Street Records and my dad had to stop by while Sarah was working at a local studio. My dad picked Jose up to see a movie and afterwards stopping by dad's office and then heading over to see Sarah. I think Jose fell instantly for her. It is known that she is incredibly nice and sweet, and beautiful too. Here's a snap shot of them together. You can tell Jose is trying to give his most perfect smile...for her sake, or maybe for his sake. LOL

monday, monday

Today Jose was home because of MLK day and it snowed all morning long, but did not stick. The high was 34, but luckily I didn’t have to be out in it. There were a ton of birds in our backyard this morning while it snowed. I can’t figure out why all these birds invaded our yard. Jose grabbed the camera and took this video. Sorry if it shakes too much ~ Jose is no pro. Cameron got a kick out of all the birds too. It was pretty amazing to see all these birds change their course and switch places around the yard. Cameron giggled a lot.

Next project...

This afternoon I ironed interfacing onto two projects and am still in the process of whip stitching the floss tag from Saturday night. (I’ll have a photo soon.) I am in the process of collecting materials for Sarah’s ABC Pincushion sampler by Blackbird Designs. I don’t have the called-for linen so I called up mom to see if she had something antique-ish and so dad was coming here to take Jose to a movie and he brought over 4 different pieces of linen for me to chose from. So that is marked off my list and I’m ready to begin. Aren’t moms great?? aunts too! :o) I'm staying in the called for count of 32 using R&R Cafe Kona. It's really pretty, but the picture doesn't show how over-dyed it really is. And I love the silk called Kelp ~ it's so pretty!

I am oh so excited about some things. I signed up for the Stacy Nash Club with Country Sampler in Wisconsin and the kit is scheduled to get mailed this week to all “girl club” members. I am so excited ~ you have no idea! This is an exclusive club with an exclusive kit that won’t be sold in stores or through any other avenue. I feel so privileged! The design is a sampler heart that has such cute motifs and on the back is a patch to hold scissors and needles. I cannot wait!!!! I’ll post a photo as soon as I get the chart. It’s so primitive and unique.

Another fantastic goodie is primitivebettys My Favorite Kitten Pinkeep pattern which I ordered through her Etsy shop last week, and she said it will be mailed out come Tuesday. I am so excited about this as well!

Then to top all this off, me and mom board a plane on Friday morning and head to St. Augustine, Florida for a Susan Greening Davis weekend retreat at the beach. I’ve been keeping tabs on the weather and it won’t be warm-warm, but it won’t be cold and that’s all that matters to me. It isn’t shorts and t-shirt weather, but the weather says it’ll be in the upper 50s and into the 60s. I can soooo deal with that. Two of our stitching pals will be there; Sally and Susan. They were at moonlight stitching as well. I just love those gals. And Pat who is the owner of the LNS will be there contributing and cooking. But the whole reason for going is that I get a little vacation away from my boys and home. I need this break. I technically haven’t had a break in years, let alone a vacation. This doesn’t constitute a vacation, but it’s better than nothing and I’ll take it without complaint. :o)

Cameron decided to do a little rearranging of my kitchen. I have video, but can't get it to load. It's really loud too. All the banging around with pots, pans, pie molds, muffin tins, etc. that he did. The moment flung me back to the past and it reminded me of my grandmother in her kitchen ~ she was never quiet. Our saying is "What she doin' now???" with a total crabby-scratchy tone.

Lots of good things to come! Just think, when I get back from out of town I’ll have stitching gifts waiting for me. Ahhhhh, now that is a way to end a good trip, don’t you think? Post later…

Monday’s Stitching: finished make-it and take-it heart floss tag; start on Sarah's ABC Pincushion
Watched Monday: Snatch

two heads are better than one

Saturday night I went to my LNS for a moonlight stitching gathering. About 14 women showed up including Melissa, which my mother has known for many years and who I just met for the first time. Melissa was so relaxing to be around. I truly enjoyed her company and she’s funny too. The make-it and take-it was a cute little heart made into a floss tag ~ appropriate for around-the-bend Valentine’s Day. Speaking of…

I finished my Lovebirds (sorry photo is so dark). It wasn’t anything major, but I enjoyed this Quaker-type piece. It was a pattern I got out of a library book I checked out called "Big Book of Cross-Stitch Designs" by The Reader’s Digest. I personalized it with my first name initial and my DH’s too, along with ’05; the year we married. I plan on finishing it into a pinkeep pillow. I spoke to my Aunt Pam Sunday and she’s going to look into her 1800’s reproduction fabrics to see if she might have a piece that will coordinate well with the color of DMC I used (#3685) – a kind of cranberry red. She has a huge abundance of fabrics, especially repros – you would love her stash! Speaking of Aunt Pam, I have a story…

My Aunt Pam told me a stitching story and she has given me permission to share (hi Aunt Pam!). The other day my aunt was cleaning the baseboards around one of her closets. She was on the floor cleaning a bottom shelf and noticed a clear storage bin that she has always thought contained quilting materials. Even so, and out of curiosity, she opened it to see its contents. Inside was cross stitching supplies and materials and a missing JCS Ornament issue (year 2000) that she recently borrowed from me, which originally belongs to my mother. Let’s just say that my aunt was completely and pleasantly surprised. She called to tell me her news and I was surprised for her. Finding something like this when you’re not looking for it is like finding money. In fact, better than finding money, because if it were money a person would just spend it on cross stitch, right? Yeah, that’s what I thought and that’s what my aunt thought! Anyhoo, it was a cool story I thought and I’m glad I heard it first, or maybe I was second. LOL

I want to share the goodies I bought while after-hours shopping at moonlight stitching Saturday.

Lizzie*Kate Double Flip-its ~ Create and Live. I love the teeny-tiny scissor and heart charms that come with the pattern.

Faithwurks ~ Cat. I had to have this little wooden cat. Isn't this too cute!

Hands to Work ~ My Beloved Tennessee. I instantly fell for this design. I live in Tennessee and don’t have anything stitched with Tennessee in mind, so now I will.

Blackbird Designs ~ Thank You, Sarah Tobias. This is a popular design or book rather. I love all the pincushions within this booklet. The first to stitch is Sarah’s ABC Pincushion. It calls for The Thread Gatherer’s Autumn Twilight which is gorgeous, but my LNS doesn’t carry that and I had to have something to go home with so I could start this sooner rather than later. I picked out Waterlilies by Caron Collection, color Kelp. It has lovely deep colors that I think will look just as good. Here’s a snip-it of the color below (mine has a little less orange though):

There’s a new designer out that I saw mentioned on Petra’s blog called The Stitcherhood. If you’re at all into antique, folk art, or primitive designs check this website out. They have some really nice patterns. There is also a section to download freebies, so go and check them out. Which brings me to…

one of my next quick stitches will be The Stitcherhood’s Valentine Love freebie. I’ve got just the fabric for this little pre-V Day project in mind. I love squeezing in quick stitches (QS) between WIPs and CRs. It gives my eyes something new to look at for a few days and it motivates me to keep stitching on those WIPs and CRs. I enjoy it. You should try it if you don't. Once you finish a little thing you just have to get something else done. All of sudden that needle finds its fire and goes! Whew!!! Tsssssssss

While I was surfing my favorite blogs, my sons were playing around and being such goof-balls. My seat kept shaking and moving about and when I looked down to see what all the fuss was about I had a funny little head staring up at me. The other little head was pulling the little head's hair.

Perfectly happy!

Perfectly unhappy!

Perfectly loved! (I'm sorry big brother.)

Sunday's Stitching: finished Lovebirds by RDBBoCSD
Watched Sunday: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls; Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

winter blues maybe

It's still cold ~ 15 degrees and sinking still. No matter how much lotion I use I can't seem to escape this dry skin. I think I have figured out why I'm in a stitching slump, among other things. I think it's winter. I have the winter blues. It's after Christmas and things have died down. My skin is dry and itchy. It's way too cold out, therefore, I'm cooped. The sun isn't warm ~ I think I need spring and I need it now. Times are difficult, things are changing, and money is scarce. It's dead outside from the chill and I feel imprisoned as a result. I'll feel much better once it feels more like something that resembles winter instead of the Antarctica. I do much better in warm weather (hence living in the south). It can be 115 degrees out and I'm much happier with that temp than how it is right now. This weather is truly pesky, isn't it?

I can't wait for 3:30 Saturday to roll around. Me and mom will be at our moonlight stitching evening from 4:00-10:00. I so need this outing. I'm going to meet someone new that my mom has known for many years and is quite fond of her. Her name is Melissa, aka Doodle-head.

Today's Stitching: Lovebirds by RDBBoCSD

friday so far

Brrrrrrrrrrrr it's so very cold outside! It's a windy 13 degrees here in my neck of the woods. The Metropolitan school district decided to call school off today because they believe it's too cold for kids to go to school. I know people elsewhere in the US and in my home state that are at school today and they have more frigid weather than us. Good grief! This just keeps getting better and better for my children, I suppose. They call off school when the "threat" of snow is upon us, and then we don't even get any snow. Now, we're calling off school bc of temperature??? It wasn't like this when I was a child. Oh well...Jose is home and now watching Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (3rd one). Cameron is napping and I'm getting to some laundry and picking things up around the homestead.

Last night, me and DH stayed up to watch The Brave One with Jodie Foster. It's a movie about being a vigilante and really it's about going off half cocked at anyone who stands in your way. It was a good movie, not great, but good. Naturally I cried at sad parts. The overall plot of the movie is quite sad. Loving boyfriend gets beaten to death and you survive the same type beating. You've come to realize the world around you isn't as beautiful as you once thought and you start taking matters into your own hand. It is sad like I said, but payback can be a witch, if you know what I mean.

While movie watching I did stitch a little. I stitched on the pattern I got out of The Reader's Digest Big Book of Cross-Stitch Designs I checked out from the library a couple weeks back. It's called Lovebirds. I'm stitching it to have for Valentine's Day, reflecting me and my honey buns! I think I'll finish it off as a small pinkeep pillow to stow away in a basket. I'll probably keep it out all year though bc it is a nice V-day thing to do :o)

That's all I've stitched this entire week. Yep, I know..very sad! I'm ashamed. I just can't figure out what is wrong with me. Cameron is taking A LOT of my time right now. I can't stop him from finding ways to climb, climb, climb, and the getting into stuff is nuts. I really need advice bc I'm seriously going mad. My house has been so rearranged by his silly little ways that it looks like we're moving. There is so much put away it isn't even funny ~ we can't even have our dining room chairs in the room. We keep them hidden in a closed off part of the house. When we want to sit down we retrieve them. However, the second, and I mean down to the millisecond, we get out of our seat he's at the chair climbing his way on board. I think this is why I've endured so much back pain and pinched nerves in the last few weeks. He's 25 lbs and that is too much for my weak back to handle especially with all the lugging I have to do with him. Oh well...such is life I guess, but something has got to give, right?

Here's Cameron at breakfast. He loves balancing his plate on his head, but mama doesn't like it when he does that after he's had waffles with syrup. He thinks he's pretty funny and he's rotten for it. Just look at his face and his 'do'. He's a bugger alright!

God love him!

Today's Stitching: Lovebirds from "RDBBoCS"

what's up?

What is up these days? I've been watching movies and taking care of household things the last few days, more like this past week, which isn't out of the ordinary for me, but I haven't had a lot of stitching power lately. I stitched a little bit the night before, but not a lot of progress was made on anything. I just finished watching Dexter; 24 started this week; and LOST will be next week. Friday we're going out to dinner with a friend of ours and his daughter. Saturday afternoon we're being visited by a high school buddy of mine along with his ex-wife and their newborn baby. Yes, I said ex-wife and their newborn baby, for a few hours. Afterwards, me and my mom are going to our Moonlight Stitching evening at the LNS. We always attend these stitching nights at the shop. It's so much fun! It's also a nice thing for me so I can get away from ALL the boys and be around stitchers and women. Moonlight Stitching is from 4-10 pm. We eat, stitch, giggle, chat and we get a make-it and take-it project. This time we're making floss ring tags which I will enjoy since I'm familiar with them and have done one myself. It'll be fun!

Then the real exciting news!!! One week from Saturday me and mom will be in St. Augustine, Florida for Susan Greening Davis' stitching retreat at the beach. DH is on mommy-patrol from early Friday morning until late Sunday night. I did this 2 years ago before Cameron was born and I had a really good time. The best was just being with mom away from home and having all that time for ourselves. This year it will be even more fun because 2 of our stitching buddies (Susan and Sally ~ no blogs) will be there and we get along with them so well. They also attend the Moonlight Stitching evenings and we always sit together. They were also at Celebration of Needlework in Louisville, KY and we did a lot together then. In addition, Pat who is the owner of our LNS is there every year. She adds to the stitching dynamic and she does all the cooking, which never disappoints. It's just going to be a lot of stitching fun! Winning prizes! Playing games! Auctions! Buying goodies! Shopping in historic downtown St. Augustine! Oh yeah...and the beach!!! It's really cold right now so the beach will be a very welcoming relief. And just spending time with mom is my favorite part of the whole trip. It's so much fun in our hotel room at night. We stay up late watching Forensic Files and stitching and eating chocolate and downing caffeine drinks ~ nothing sweeter!!!! The only downside to the trip is flying. I used to love flying and now I dread every part of it. I don't mind the checks and waiting in line. It's the flight itself that I'm afraid of. I'll have to take one of those wonderful pills called Xanax! That ought to do the trick. They'll put me out of my misery and I can handle that :o)

I read blogs all the time. Everyone is so neat and everyone inspires me to some degree. I've never been a part of a RR and I'm still intimidated to do an RR with someone that I'm not familiar with. It isn't anything against the other stitcher(s). I don't trust myself. I definitely plan on doing a RR with other stitchers, but it'll have to be in the future. BUT, and that's a big 'but', me and my mom have decided to do a mother-daughter RR, just us, on the Carriage House Samplings Shores of Hawk Run Hollow seen here:

My mom is a model stitcher for the JCS magazine and has recently finished a project for them so a little time as opened for her to stitch on something from her own stash. Mom started on the first block this afternoon and once there is a little more to show for she'll take pictures and I'll post them here. It's going to be a lot of fun stitching this RR with my mama. Besides, it is my first RR, but my mom has done this several times. She's been stitching a long time. I just can't wait until it's my turn at SOHRH! We figure that she can have custody of the finished piece half the year and me the other. Everyone wins!

I said before that I haven't had a lot of stitching power lately. A couple days ago I started on something for Valentine's Day. Well, for me and DH really. One of my goals this year, and for many years to come, is to stitch more pieces with family in mind. I don't stitch enough of those. I went to the library a couple weeks ago and checked out 2 cross stitch pattern books. I found a really cute, quaint pattern called Lovebirds. I don't know who designed it and technically the pattern is done in one color and I'm sticking to that, but I'm using DMC 3685 (I think that's the color); done on 32 ct Antique White linen. The size is small; I think a mere 2.5x2.5 or maybe 3 square. It's small, but my thoughts are to make it into a pinkeep and lay it in my basket. I may try and put our initials with the birds ~ not sure yet. The pattern itself is a bit Quaker/folk artsy. It's cute! I'll post photos when I have a little more done.

Tonight I'm going to try and stitch. I haven't stitched since Monday. I did go through all 10 years of the JCS Christmas Ornament issues to make a list of things to stitch. Not necessarily for this year, but just in general. I got that done at least. I've pretty much organized my WIP and Current Rotation baskets, but I'm still lagging on the stitching goals list for 2009. I need to get this list compiled or I'll lose myself...again!

I'm going to go for now. If me and DH can meet in bed at the same time I think we're going to watch "The Brave One" with Jodi Foster. Hopefully, DH will be able to stay up. He's such a lightweight! LOL

Today's Stitching: nothing yet ~ night is still young :o)

dying for dexter?

Yes, yes I am!!! I just finished watching Seasons 1 & 2 of Dexter and oh my my my...was it ever a climatic season finale. Dexter is one of the best shows I've ever watched. He's America's favorite serial killer, after all, and about the finest one at that. Michael C. Hall is wonderful in this role. He was in Six Feet Under, which I never watched but he's been on broadway and made a couple movie appearances in the past. Anyway, Dexter is someone you love to hate, but you can't, no matter how hard you try, you can't hate Dexter Morgan and all that he does...and he does A LOT!! Throughout Seasons 1 and 2 my emotions went all over the place. There were at least 4 times I cried. You'll laugh and be shocked all at the same 'kill'. Maybe I have a soft spot for hotties such as Dexter Morgan, but I was consumed with concern and fear for him, and at times for others as well. This show leaves you with your mouth open wide, your curiosity into "what will Dexter do to get out of this situation?" kind of questioning, and yes, you'll be wanting more of Dexter Morgan. I can promise you that! I can't wait for Season 3 to be released. I don't get Showtime, but my parents own both Seasons 1 and 2 so that's how I was able to watch them back-to-back. I believe Dexter 3 will be out in February and I'm oh so ready for it.