A Grab Bag Windfall

On one of the cross stitch lists I'm a member of, someone commented that Cheryl was closing shop and offering Grab Bags for $23 including shipping of the 8.95 priority mail box -- stuffed full. I don't usually go for unseen bargains, but decided to take a chance. Boy, am I ever glad I did. As closely as I can calculate, there must be over $200 retail value of materials in this box.

Two boxes of Anchor pearle thread, 4 sets of Mill Hill buttons, Kreinik spools, packs of Just Nan bead sets, many, many Mill Hill beads, Charles Craft fabric, and at least 20 booklets or kits.
Totally amazing!



Thank you so much, Cheryl.

Is it Spring, Yet?

I'm so sorry many of you are buried under inches of recent snow. The weather has been all over the place this last week. Yesterday, the high was about 36^, and today on my deck (that is in full sunshine) at about 2:00 pm it is... 94^. Don't believe me?



No, I don't believe it is spring yet, but this weather is confusing the plantlife. See the first daffodils...



and it appears as if, like last year, there may be no plums. The trees are already blooming, but it is far too soon. Another frost/freeze will kill them, and they're just too big to cover for this long a time. Click the pic to check out Mr. Robin in the lower right corner who does believe it is Spring!

February 20, 2008 ~ Lunar Eclipse

These are not the greatest pictures and certainly don't do justice to the eclipse, but they're the best of about 100 I took! I only wish I had taken one after the event was over - this morning at about 6:00 dawning the moon was as bright as I've ever seen it.

Tag - You're It

I've been tagged by Candi to list seven things about myself that others may not know.

THE RULES:
1. Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post THE RULES on your blog.
3. Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.
4. Tag 7 people and link to them.
5. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.

I feel like the friends who stop by my blog KNOW more than they care to by now. Since I just did this a few months ago, I thought it would be OK to share that link with you here.

...and for your listening entertainment: Who Are You, Who Who Who Who??

Barb @ Around Barb's Bend

Jennifer at Sweet Pea Stitches

Jill @ PurplePeacock

Joanna's Journal

Joan's Sew B It Cross Stitching

Lili from Another Cross Stitch Addict

Teresa at Sew Many Thoughts

Anyone else who comes through and wishes to participate may! Just leave me a comment so I can take a look at your shared info, please.

Floss Arrangement

Preface:

I realize that this is probably something that many Cross Stitchers have already thought about, but hope it will give any other newbie who hasn't a few extra stitches in their busy day! You could share your time-saving tips as comments if you'd like...

I am currently rotating several designs as SALs. I have the graph, color chart, and threads all sorted and ready so that when it's time to move to the next everything is together. All the colors called for by the chart are in a baggie. As you see, this is 'On the Road Again' stitch along from wXSw, and it uses lots of wonderful colors! So many of the great stitchers are finished, but I'm still working on Part II.

While trying to find ways to speed up my stitching, I contemplated what was taking lots of time. One of the things was finding the correct color and threading the needle each time. It occurred to me that if I had the needle threaded with the correct color, I wouldn't have to go through the baggie looking for it each time. Yes, it did seem to help, but when I needed to switch colors I'd still have to get the color chart and see which of the needles in the pin cushion was the correct one.

Another idea: If I printed an extra copy of the color chart and backed it with a sheet of foam I could put the needle in the correct shape, grab it, and stitch away?! All Right! Yes, it does seem to speed the process a bit for me.



When it's time to put the project away and move to the next one, I do unthread and put the threads back with their original skein, but this has been a time savings for me. I hope you can take the idea, modify it to suit your stitching style, and share any other ideas that may help us get more stitches out of the time we have!!

Lover of Crafts

Wow! Am I ever surprised and humbled. Linda, of I Love Crafts & Craft Blogs has written an article about my blogs. If you'd like to read another craft lover's opinion of crafters' blogs, have a look at her site. When I looked, mine was first in the list, Friday, February 15, 2008.

Thank you so much, Linda. I hardly knew you were speaking of me!!

Disney Set

It's time for me to move along with my 2008 rotation, but just wanted to 'finish' something, so I stitched one of the Disney Princesses' set I'm doing for my young cousin. This group will include Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Ariel, and Bell. They're small, ornament type projects, but I hope she will like them! I just realized I need to get Jasmine! Oops!


Here is Cinderella. To be so small, I think it looks much like her!

Happy Valentines' Day

Happy Valentines' Day

to you and the ones you love!

Valentine Mystery

I have finished the next rotation of Pam Kellog's Kitty and Me 2008 Valentine Mystery It is coming along beautifully. I think I used a different color on the side backstitched border than Pam suggested, but still think it is pretty. I haven't been crazy about doing backstitch in the past, but enjoyed doing these because they resulted in such a pretty border.

By the way, Pam has recently published a book, Elegant Crazy Quilt Seam Treatments, an eBook that is now available. Pam is a cross stitch designer, and you can see her book and designs at her etsy shop.

SBQ: Other Crafts

This week's sbq question is:

Are there other crafts that you have tried and abandoned? Why do you like stitching better?

Sure! But I don't know that I would say, 'abanadoned' but more lost focus. Knitting is one - I taught myself to knit a few years ago, and made scarves for several people, but that's all I ever learned to do. How many scarves can one and her friends use? Tatting is another. I do love it, and will do it again, but there again... My desire to learn was to make small motifs for Crazy Quilts, and that another craft that is out of focus. I REALLY love CQ, but just lost the crazy urge to do it for now. As I've said before, I have crafters' ADD. The wonderful thing about needle crafts is that the stash doesn't eat and doesn't spoil -- it only takes space.

Conspiracy in Death ~ *****

Along with my needlecrafts, reading is one of my joys.

A friend from work loaned me a book, Conspiracy in Death by J. D. Robb (a pen name of Nora Roberts) that I've just finished reading. This is the first by either that I've read.

This is not the first in the series, 'in death' mysteries, but was enjoyable just the same. I will read others - possibly from the beginning to get the background.

Eve Dallas is a New York police lieutenant who uses her instincts to track ruthless killers. Her husband, Roarke, an Irish billionaire, assists in the investigation along with her assistant and others from the force. In this episode, Eve investigates the sidewalk murders of homeless people by a killer collecting human organs.

Are you thinking reading is keeping me from stitching? Naaahh - that's not the case at all. It just seems I can't go to sleep unless I read a few pages to relax.

Another Mystery

I'm a member of the wXSw yahoo group - Wonderful Cross Stitch World - and one of the things we could participate in is a cross stitch project, 2008 On the Road Again Mystery. One section of a chart is made available at various intervals of time. I believe three parts of four have been made available, but I've just finished Part I. This cute design was created by Barbara Ana and Helga Mandl. If I remember correctly, January 15 was the sign-up deadline to receive the free mystery charts, but it will be available later for sale. The designers have said that all profits from the sale of this chart will go to charity.

I have really enjoyed stitching this piece. It is done on 14ct Aida in a muted, darker tone. It came from my old stash, so I don't know the exact name. DMC threads are used, and gave me my first opportunity to work with the Variations line. I LOVE them. They differ from variegated, made up of tones of the same color. Variations have tones of coordinating colors. The roof and heart both use Variations, and there will be more in upcoming sections!! Stay tuned...

Cross Stitch Revisited - II

This is one of my favorites that almost got left out when I posted some of my first pieces from many years ago. DS was about six when I did this, and it reminded me SO much of him... It is very precious to me!


1987

SBQ: Happy Dance

Here's the sbq question:

Have you had a happy dance yet this year? If so, tell us about it!
(Or just point to the entry that mentions it.)
If not, when do you predict it will be?

Have I done a Happy Dance? Sure I have! I've worked on all three of my Cross Stitch rotation pieces in January... well the last ran a bit into February, but I'll post a picture of it in a little while. The others are already posted here and here.