downton abbey

Another finish in my midst. It's really no big deal, but it counts.

It was a freebie by Tanya designed after a PBS production called "Downton Abbey." It was a fantastic series which I'd like to order on DVD at some point and re-watch.

Good news to share in an upcoming post...stay tuned...Talk soon!

i love a good mystery!

Don’t you?! Today I joined a club sponsored by Attic Needlework & Collectibles. And not just any club. A Mystery Sampler Club which will be sent in 3 portions over a 3 month period starting May 10. A photo of the sampler won’t be revealed until the 3rd and final portion is sent (oh the suspense!), but the fabric choices are terrific. I have chosen Lakeside Linen, 40 ct. Choice of threads are WDW or a conversion for silks, and since I don’t want to run out and collect 18 skeins of silk any time soon, I’m going to stick with WDW. This just works for me and it keeps the cost down.

The design is called “Birds of a Feather” by designer Brenda Gervais of Country Stitches / With Thy Needle & Thread. Jean Lea, from Attic Needlework & Collectibles, is extremely helpful and she creates a beautiful newsletter which I have also subscribed to. Jean's newsletter comes in a .pdf format so if you have trouble accessing the newsletter link I've provided, you can find it on her website under Newsletter - Here’s a sample of her recent newsletter – it’s fab-u-lous! But as of today, there's a new newsletter. Please subscribe AND sign up for the Mystery Sampler Club!

I also ordered "Feather Your Nest" cross stitch chart. It's so vibrant. That's it...Talk soon!

memory

Last Saturday night, Jose and I saw Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Cats. As a child, my parents took me to see these Jellicle Cats perform when we lived outside Chicago. I was a mere 9-12 years old (wow!). I remember it being just before Christmas - might have been Christmas Eve because I distinctly remember coming home and our Christmas morning was celebrated that night due to a trip back home to Cincinnati the very next morning. That evening with my parents is a fond memory of mine. I remember going into the city, catching a cab ride, seeing the musical, and even losing my blanket on the streets of Chicago. But dad convinced the cab driver to drive around the block to see where I had dropped it. In hopes we'd locate it. Luckily, it was still lying on the cold winter street waiting for my return.

I was engrossed by Cats. I learned that the stage was built at an incline so the performers could jump through the air and achieve their acrobatic maneuvers more easily, and as I remember the most about Cats, the stunning performance of Memory. Such a breathtakingly sad moment of the musical.

Now I have a new memory of Cats. I love musicals and I always enjoy the musicality and performance of such, but this time Cats was, well, kinda boring. I realize now that Cats has no plot. No story. Just a bunch of people dressed in cat-like costumes, pretending to lick and clean themselves and then bust out in song for no aparent reason at all. Albeit there were funny moments and entertaining parts that still caught my attention. The performance of Memory is still to die-for. Once again, it was a beautiful performance and still remains the highlight of the show. It’s still a wonderful memory for me and always will be.

The fondest memory of the evening was spending it with my well-groomed son (he does clean up well) and the company we kept. We all had a lot of much-needed fun!

[And thanks to mom for babysitting Cameron while I made a memory with Jose like the one they made with me – xoxo!]

2x2x2

Two must be my lucky number this week, but then I’m lucky to have finished anything at all. I managed to finish stitching 2 designs, both by The Sampler Girl.

My Everything by The Sampler Girl

I changed it up so it’ll suit my suitor. I took antique white linen and dyed it with taupe Rit dye. I used WDW Blue Topaz for the lettering and Perle Cotton for the heart. The turquoise batik fabric is being used for the back. My hope is for a hanging pillow. I have a leather-y type cord so it’s pretty masculine, I think. It’ll do.

Movie Night by The Sampler Girl

I started this in 2009 and got most of it stitched then. I used what I had on-hand so some threads were changed and I used a different linen color, but stayed with the same count. The popcorn buttons are adorable. They are by Just Another Button Company – had them forever too. It’s a wonder I was able to keep up with them for so long.

I recently decided that, although a stitching addict and it’s a sickness to start one project without finishing another (admit it, you are all guilty of this too), I’m going to attempt (ahem) to finish my past WIPS. But still continue with new projects. I mean, I have too much stash as it is and it’s only going to get worse grow so I might as well grab thy needle and start stitching. Sooooo, Movie Night was one of them and it's done! One down and onto the next “X.”

In the mail this week, came two new charts I ordered from none other than The Sampler Girl (maybe I have a thing for Tanya…hhhmmm).

The Beggar’s Purse Sampler, where I adore the brown color arrangement and the special stitches Tanya implements in this one. Plus, who doesn't like a sampler, right? Her newly released French Folio immediately caught my eye, with all the delicate pinks, whites and blues – very fresh and 'Gai Paris'. I can’t wait to stitch these up and decorate a spot in my home.

Also in the mail, came two of my quilting magazines that my Aunt Pam gifts to me with regular subscriptions.

Better Homes and Garden’s American Patchwork and Quilting and McCalls Quilting. Aunt Pam also provides me with Fons and Porter, but that one hasn’t arrived yet, and thankfully not, because it wouldn’t mesh well with this post, now would it?! I’m not the advanced quilter like my aunt. I’m more of a beginner and an itchy-wannabe quilter, even though I do know how to quilt, I still love my magazines. They are so inspiring if nothing else.

I may even come up with another finish this week. Don't hold your breath, but definitely keep your fingers crossed :D --- Here’s to hundreds more of two of everything…Talk soon!

etui

If you are really loved, someone will gift you with one of these. But if you're really, really, really loved, then someone extra special will make one and gift it to you. No drooling allowed. I don't want my etui wet or dirty...lol

I spent Thanksgiving 2010 with my Aunt Pam and the rest of my mother's (my) family. While visiting one night, my aunt presented me with an unexpected gift bag. I was rather surprised, to say the least, but inside was this beautifully handmade, personally made-with-love for me, etui. I was in total shock and disbelief!

We both love the color blue so she was on the mark with her color choices. And as far as the etui itself, I was mesmerized by its detail and functionality. I really couldn't believe it was mine; still don't. It's such a special creation that even my mother has taken it with her to her guilds for show-n-tell and received many rave reviews (well, Aunt Pam has received the rave reviews). I've taken it to our LNS and again, mouths drop and mops come out to sop up the drool.

When I opened my gift and the etui fell open, as did my mouth, it reminded me of a bloomin' onion (without the smell, of course) and as such, Aunt Pam says, "Julie, when someone makes this for you, they really really really love you." And I know my Aunt Pam does. I love her too!

Talk soon!

poses

I was off work today because Cameron was under the weather and so we hung out around the house. Even though Cameron wasn't feeling well he never loses his sense of humor or his need to show off!!!

After every pose Cameron would say "And this!" "And this..."

"And this!"

"And this!"

"Mommy, show me your face!" (How could I resist this child?)

"Good job, Mommy!" Cameron says ;-)

friday funny

Ha-Ha.....April Fool's Day!

Talk soon!

first school picture

{Taken St. Patrick's Day - 2011}

I just got back Cameron's first school picture. There's a story to having his picture taken, but I can't share it. However, Cameron had been crying before this photo was taken because all the kids were getting their mugs photographed and he wanted his done too. It was finally his turn and he gave a very sweet, yet exhausting, little smile. When I showed Cameron this photo of himself, well, here's how it went:

Mommy: Look Cameron. See, it's your picture.

Cameron: [Silent gaze at the photo]

Mommy: I love this picture of you, Cameron! What do you think?

Cameron: I cute like Curious George.

Talk soon!

that is the question

To cord or not to cord?

[Designer/Design Unknown (because I can't remember)]

This was the piece I mentioned in an earlier post where my late-pooch Chloe had gnawed on it, resulting in bleeding fibers. Mom skillfully salvaged one of my first completed pieces back in 2005. Now it’s 2011 and I’m just now getting around to giving it purpose. So pathetic, but I digress. I do like what its become, almost.

I laced the back, but have yet to secure it to the wooden base and that’s because it isn’t necessarily even (like I needed to tell you). I was so hell-bent on making sure it was securely fastened to the cut-out backing,  that I didn’t pay close enough attention to the front that the edges were, in fact, smoothly round. 

Anyway, cord or not to cord? That is the question. If I  attach twisted cord around the edge to hide the uneveness I'll have a more "polished" look. If I go cordless, I'll need to re-lace the back and not pull so tightly; making sure to pay closer attention to my front, but this means starting over. Either way isn't too bad - it's all fun and I still get a homemade pincushion, nonetheless.

So, what's say you! Talk soon, shall we?

weekend wrap-up

~saw the movie Battle: Los Angeles --- Jose saw this with my mom and they said it was good; entertaining to be exact. I thought I should see it too so I did. I agree with their assessment. I enjoyed it. Very entertaining and I even cried at times.

~bought more orchids --- 2 miniatures and 2 standard sized; all Phalaenopsis. And an additional orchid called a Cattleya that I get to grow myself. This will be my first attempt and I’m more than thrilled.

(this is what my Cattleya could very well look like once grown and with blooms)

~took 2 Little House Needleworks projects to my LNS to be framed --- 

I can’t wait to get them back! I bought a few other odds and ends, as well, to help facilitate in some self-finishing of smalls I have. I put together a round pin cushion that I haven’t photographed yet. I found a round wooden support (whatever you want to call it) at my LNS. I have a finished piece from 2005 (gulp!), just a dainty piece, that my mother saved, when my late-pooch Chloe got hold of it years ago and did everything to it except tear it to shreds. The thread bled and it was a mess, but mom worked on it (remember this, mom?). I’ll show you later what has come of it now; six embarrassing years later.

~started a tiny freebie given by The Sampler Girl some time ago called “Downton Abbey.” The show aired on PPS Masterpiece Classic in January 2011 and I really liked it. I love how Tanya can hone in on her ability to capture a moment and turn it around with a design to share with all of us, no matter how big or small. I truly admire this designer for her simplicity and commitment to a dream. Tanya’s not pretentious and I like that a lot. Besides, she’s just a damn good person straight from the heart.

~allergies started to kick in, but the older I get the more relief I’m finding.

That’s my weekend wrap-up. It was cold, wet, sometimes rainy and cloudy, the entire weekend. Spring has sprung, but I’m ready for the warm-up. Not the teasing warm-up we had last week when we hit 80 degrees for a couple days and then flew back down into the 50s with 30s as our overnight lows.

I forgot to mention in my coming back post (LIVE LOVE LAUGH) that for Christmas 2010 I bought myself a Kindle – yay!!! I’m official…Talk soon!

PS – Thank you EVERYONE who has welcomed me back with open arms and who commented on such. You are dear to me, all of you, even if you didn’t comment…;-)