Bride's Tree Ornaments

I finished my first Bride's Tree Ornament as a part of the yahoo group for January. It is from the Best Wishes Ornaments booklet from Rosewood Manor - the House of Protection. I used 18 ct Aida in Oatmeal color with two strands of DMC floss. This is the front of the ornament...





...and the back is here.



I attempted to use a lighter color in 22 ct, but it didn't look so good and it was very hard to see. I'm not sure if I should have tried one strand, or to stitch over two. The 18ct stitched up very well for me.

So yes, I've been doing a little reading, and a little stitching, too! ;-)

What I'm Working On

To start the year in cross stitch, I've made commitments to several things.

1. Pam Kellogg's 2008 Valentine Mystery
   
2. wXCw - Helga and Anna's Back on the Road Mystery


3. The Bride's Tree

I started with the Valentine Mystery. I've just about completed the first part.



When it's finished, I think I'll do the Bride's Tree house then part one of Helga and Barbara Ana's, in a rotation schedule. I think that will prevent wearing myself out on one, or boredom. Of course I am far from on schedule with any of them. There are several who have completed theirs, but never let it be murmured that I'm a speedy stitcher. Far from it! (order revised 1/21)

This is the first time I've ever successfully used my Snap frame for stitching. It really does seem to reduce the stress on my thumb joint that can become quite painful after hours of stitching.

Favorite Thing to do While Stitching

From the Incoherent Scribblings blog, I found this sbq:

What is your favorite past time while stitching? Do you just enjoy silence, listen to music/audiobooks or do you “watch” TV/movies? Do you have specific favorites you listen to/watch while stitching?

My favorite place to stitch is in "my chair," an old recliner, usually with Pixie on the arm or under my arm or around my neck, with the TV playing movies or favorite shows.

There are times when silence is wonderful, but most of the time the TV is on. The point of IS was that she had discovered and loves audio books. I tried that while 'surfing,' but I get intent on one or the other and lose focus on the other. Somehow TV doesn't affect me that way.


How about you? What's your favorite thing to do while stitching?

Meet the Family

This is my family: Dad, son Jonathan, me, and Mom.

Dad has since had surgery to remove a growth from his kidney, and is recovering nicely! Jonathan is living at home with me again, back in college for Computer Networking. Mom continues to work at Wal-Mart as a greeter. And I look forward to retiring from the College - 2012 at the latest!

Oh, and here are Pixie, my toy poodle and Kilo, Jonathan's Great Dane.

Quotes

My friend Susan is more of a quotes collector than I, and she asked how I came upon this one. I'm on a mailing list that sometimes includes quotes. This one struck me because it seems so similar to one of my favorites, "The older I get, the more like me I become."

“She was becoming herself and daily casting aside that fictitious self which we assume like a garment with which to appear before the world.”

                   ~~ Kate Chopin 

What am I working on?

I've started stitching on the 2008 Valentine Myster from Kitty and Me Designs. At least one person has completed the first part, and I've only just begun! Hopefully this week it will begin to take shape!!

Another Santa

I finished another of the Old World Santa's in the kit I've been working on.

Cross Stitch Revisited

While I was looking for some fabric, I found some of the first cross stitch pieces I stitched and kept.

These two are printed backgrounds with stitching. The Rose was done in 1986 and the Hummers in 1993.

These were intended for my son's room, but never made it to display there! They were both done in 1988.

I'm sure this was intended as a baby gift, but something else must have seemed more appropriate! It is dated 1989.

Sweet Gift

In the mail one day this week I received a great surprise from Pat at Gatherings. It's a kit to make one of the dear little embellished children she's been sharing with us. What a kind and generous thing to do - just a RAOK, I suppose. Thank you, Pat. I will let you know when he comes to life!!

You Make My Day Award

I should mention that this award was issued to my other blog, When This You See Remember Me.

I have been given the "You Make My Day" by Maureen. I haven't been very productive blogger lately, so was totally surprised. Thank you so much, Maureen! Wilma has now nominated me. Thank you, Wilma! You are a dear!

The award rules are to“Give the award to up to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel so happy about blogland! Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so that they can pass it on.

I'm not sure there are 10 who haven't been awarded, but a double award will be fine! Let me see who I can choose that brightens my blog trips...

Well, there's Pat at Gatherings who always has a happy word or an inspiring idea!

Pam of Kitty & Me Designs is such a great and generous artist.

Jo from NZ at No Matter Where I Go... has always been an inspiration - even watching her grow into the fiber artist she has become!

Traveling Susan from CQ4Fun is certainly inspired and inspiring ~ such a great friend is she!

Ati on the Road is gifted with such talent. Her work is always impeccable!

I'm new to the Cross Stitch blog world, but have found these to be insightful and inspiring!

Lili, the Cross Stitch Addict, posts in English and French.

Litla Skvís was one of the first Cross Stitch blogs I found, and enjoy her humor and talent!

Vonna at The Twisted Stitcher brought me to The Bride Tree SAL. She's dedicated!

The World's Largest Collection of Smalls is a site where anyone can post their needle work projects. Talk about inspiring!

Cross Stitch News is a list of links to new articles and other postings - very informative for a newbie!

? Where Have You Been ?

I appreciate those of you who have asked, "Where are you?" I'm fine GirlFriends!

I work at a College, and after a wonderful two week Christmas (winter) break, the re-entry has been crazy. The first day we come back was Open Registration, and it's a zoo for a few days. 7:30a - 6:00p one day, but that was the worst of it - well, it's not Friday yet!

During the last week of holiday break, my dad had surgery to eliminate a growth from his kidney, so I spent a lot of time with Mom and him at the hospital and some in the evenings now after work. He's recovering nicely, and goes back for a post-op checkup today, so hopefully things will return to normal (what's that?) soon.

If you read my New Year post below, you see that I've been bitten by the Cross Stitch bug once again, so I've been focusing on that in the free time that is available. You know these fingers have to be doing something; right?

I'll probably be hanging out over here more, so if you have me set to notify you when my blog is updated, you may want to add this one. You may not see me posting messages as often, but still read the mail groups - just takes a while. I haven't checked blogs in what seems like weeks, but that will come, too.

Thanks for stopping by! Say 'hey' when you have a chance and I will, too!

2008 Mystery Valentine SAL

I've started the 2008 Valentine Mystery Stitch Along with Pam Kellogg over at Kitty & Me Designs. If you hop over there you'll see that someone has already completed the first part of the challenge, and I've only just begun. I'll update with pictures later.