Finishes

The semester is underway, I was finally able to fix 'the' problem, and things are getting back to normal at work. I didn't think I'd ever be able to say that again. I still have to do a part of the process in the evening from home, but as long as it's working properly, that's fine!! Thanks for the good vibes and commiseration I felt coming my way!

Thought you may like a talley of the 'do you sign your cross stitch' post. Of the ten who commented, six said Yes, they do at least initial and date their pieces (and that is really what I meant by signature). One said only original creations, and one said they never thought about cross stitch, but did put labels on quilts, ets. I used to date and initial all my stitching, but sort of got out of the habit. I'm going to try to make it a point to remember so someday, when someone unearths them they'll know in what era they were stitched!

I finished reading Mariah Stewart's Dead Certain, as I mentioned before, out of order, but ready for the final in the Dead series. May take a break with someone else, but it's on the shelf, ready to be read ;-).

I also finished the Gateway to Summer project.

One of the reasons I wanted to do this series is that I have a small collection of gates hanging on the wall of my living room. I want to incorporate these into that collage. Hopefully I will be able to find frames with a similar finish... but since the gates are all different, I don't feel the frames have to be exactly the same.

Hum... I have a metal frame picked up from a thrift store that has a sort of vine-y look. Maybe that will be good for Summer? Let me go see if I can put my hands on it. Yes, I found it. Tell me what you think?

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you have a wonderful 'rest of the weekend, and come back again soon!

Common Sense isn't always so Common!

Written by Regina Brett,
The Plain Dealer
Cleveland, Ohio

“To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more.”

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ''In five years, will this matter?".
26. Always choose life.
27. Forgive everyone everything.
28. What other people think of you is none of your business.
29. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
31. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
32. Believe in miracles.
33. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
34. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
35. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
36. Your children get only one childhood.
37. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
38. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
39. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
40. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
41. The best is yet to come.
42. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
43. Yield.
44. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

To sign or not to sign??

I saw on a blog the other day a comment about adding their 'signature' to a sampler that was originally created by someone else - Mary Wigham, I believe. It brought to mind the question: Do you 'sign' or initial your work? Why or why not?

I've been stitching on the Summer Gateway this week, and making pretty good progress.






Thanks for stopping by ~ y'all come back soon!

Another Crazy Week

So crazy at work - and having to do a couple hours from home in the evening just seems to have me in a constant work mode. I will probably become more accustomed to it after a while, but now it seems like all work and no play!


I did finish Random Threads last week. The dark colors are subtle, but I still think it's a pretty piece.




Also started a new project: Gateway to Summer by Water's Edge, Dobbie Marek. I'm using DMC floss and Monaco 28 ct Tea. I'm already not crazy about this Monaco, but it was in the stash, and the color is good, it's just the 'hand' I'm not wild about. This will be a seasonal set one of these days...




Going blog hopping now. Thanks for stopping by, and hope to see you again, soon!

Weekly Update

It's been wild and crazy at work this week, and I'm so far behind in reading all my list mail and visiting my blog friends. A few day makes a HUGE difference - sometimes I have a chance to read a message or two, or follow alink to blog updates - but not this week. I hope all the members know that I don't respond with welcomes, happy birthdays, and other comments that sometimes would like to, but there's just not enough time in the day! I should be doing some work right now, but just have to take a break once in a while.


I finished reading Dead Wrong, by Mariah Stewart this week. It's the first in a series that I had already read number three, Dead Even. It wasn't such a bad thing, but if I hadn't started I would read them in order. Now I'm reading number two, Dead Certain. These are mystery FBI cases with a little romance thrown in. Pretty nice night time reading. If you like JD Robb you'll probably like these, too.

...and so, I decided to next work on Random Threads by Erica Michaels. It's on 28ct Light Exemplar by Lakeside, and I'm using ...silk buttonhole twist. I don't believe I've used it before for cross stitching, but am enjoying the way it stitches up on this 28ct linen.

This was the very beginning,

and this is where I am, now.

Long ago I finished Helga Mendal's On the Road Again mystery stitch along, and my plan was to use it on a tote bag. This isn't a really good shot, but it is on and I've been using it as a work carry-along bag.

I joined in with the group at Brookes Books Interactive for a Christmas in July swap. This is the sweet Joy ornament I received from Sue, and she also sent along a little kit with frame, fabric, threads, and even a needle for me to complete. This was a fun swap, and Sue, I really do like what you shared with me!

My recipient was Kathy, and this is the ornament I sent to her. It is from the JCS 2009 Ornament preview magazine. I included a couple of skeins of Christmas colored silk as well.

Thanks for taking your precious time to drop in today. I'm going to take a few minutes to go and do the same. Do come back again, soon!

Finish - What's Next?

I finished Sampler Lady, and now wondering what do I want to start next?

Sure, I've got some things going, but nothing is really calling out for me to work on. I went by my LNS - Stitch and Frame - on Friday to get a couple of LNS charts that I've been admiring, but they had neither of them in stock - they've ordered them for me. I did find "Reading" in the sale bin, so I picked it up. I also wanted to get my spot reserved for Tea with the Queen, and at the checkout these scissors I've been in "Love" with for the longest jumped into my little basket.

I'm thinking about Mary Wigham... anyone else have this dilemma? I'll decide and let you know.

Thanks for stopping by! Come back soon.