Saturday, January 28, 2012

Overdue Thankyou

Isn't this the most lovely piece ? It is a stitching tote my sweet stitching sister Teresa sent this to me last week and I had a hard time getting a decent photo. Dark when I leave for work and dark when I get home is getting old but I have noticed the light is beginning to hang a little later in the evening as I am driving home so there is hope of spring. 
Inside the pocket is a needle holder with lovely leaf pins, a pocket which had an acorn fob, a zipper pocket to hold project safe and sound and a pocket on the back to hold the pattern or notes. It is just amazing and so thoughtful. I wish you could all see the lovely detail in person. Then when she was at a LNS one day she found some 28ct spun silver which is my favorite fabric now discontinued. I will make something on it soon. Just love the feel of it in my hand. Thanks my friend is just not enough to say. 
Linen and lace progress or un-progress as the case may be... The left side of the border is off by a few threads so it has to come out. Yep the entire left lace border... Just love the frog.I'm ready to fry it up for frog legs for lunch! 


Next week offers a work assignment out of town. I accepted it because of a LNS in the town next door. I am, if nothing else, a woman with proper since of priority. I cannot share the location with you all until I return but I promise to take lots of photos and maybe a few stash treats.I can promise you will all wish you were there as a way to tease you a bit. It is hard to believe I have been blogging for a year next month. I think a 1st blog anniversary give away will be in order.  


Thanks for stopping by,
Pam

Sunday, January 15, 2012

YIKES!

It has been a while since I posted. Time just flies when you are having fun.... This is my weekend start. It is DT Linen and Lace from my project mountain for 2012.The silks just feel heavenly between your fingers and the fabric is a great green. I cannot get it to really show up good with my phone. Maybe better in the daylight as I progress.DS had a wrestling match close to home and DH went on a weekend hunting trip and I was able to just pile up and stitch. Too cold here to do much else, even though our temp is not that cold compared to northern temps the humidity makes it feel sooooo much colder. My cousin lives in Alaska and says she freezes when she comes here because of the humidity in the air. 
So home alone and a chocolate craving equals my scratch brownies. I made them for a co-worker Friday and they were fresh on my mind! Supper easy recipe and they are always delightful. I had mine with a little vanilla ice cream fresh from the oven.They are very rich and you will never buy a mix again. The recipe is off the baker's unsweetened chocolate box(orange box) with a couple of modifications.These are not cake style brownies. They are your moist chewy brownies.
 Recipe:
one and a half sticks of butter melted with 4 oz. unsweetened chocolate in microwave for 90 seconds to 2 minutes. Stir to completely melt chocolate. Add 2 cups sugar, 3 eggs, 1 tsp Penzeys double strength vanilla, 1 tsp Penzeys cinnamon, 1 cup chopped pecan and finally 1 cup flour. Be careful not to over stir after flour is added or they will be tough


350 degree oven  for 25 to 30 minutes 


This is where I got on my BAP before I ran out of WDW bark. I have one line of the verse left and about half of the one above it. It was time for a break form the 0/0 so I started L&L. Also managed to get an exchange piece finished that I cannot wait to send. It turned out really cute and I am just loving it. I think I may try to go back to the BAP after the L&L is completed but right now it is packed back up. I think it I can just get finished with the verse the rest of the piece should move pretty fast.


Got a busy week at work this week and a conference at church... not liking my chances of stitching in the evening.Thanks for stopping by and as always love a few comments.


Pam

Monday, January 2, 2012

Mission Impossible

Today has been spent sorting and organizing, just something about the new year that makes me want to approach this task. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed as I have many complete kits and several kits almost completed. Above is Linen and Lace, I a lovely R&R Glen Ellyn Blend to stitch it on and converted to Belle Soie Silks. Isn't it wonderful how you can turn a cheap stitch into an extravagant monster within just a few minutes? I did have the Rose of Sharron already so there were only 8 more to buy. They must fill the LNS with a secret formula that makes you drunk in the shop and make crazy purchases. You can spend about $3.00 on cotton floss or $90.00 on silks. Let's see.... I'll buy the silks. I'm sure they drug us to make us lose all common sense when we enter a LNS. A spray mist that is virtually non-detectable except by advance scientific equipment.
So without further comments, here are my kitted or close to kitted projects for this year, (and more than likely next) For those of you who watched American X Factor- In no particular order....


1. Drawn Thread - Linen and Lace
2. Drawn Thread - The Riddle
3. Prairie Schooler - Alphabet
4. Victoria Sampler - Mermaid Song Stitcher's Purse
5.Carriage House Sampler- Fredrick
6. Carriage House Sampler - Fredericka
7. Moira Blackburn - Three Things Sampler
8. Lizzie Kate - 6 Fat Men
9. Plum Street Sampler - The Flood
10.Workbasket -  Quaker Acorn and Squirrel
11. Chessie and Me - Breath of Autumn (WIP)
12. Chessie and Me- Pumpkin Row
13. Rosewood Manor - Spring Quakers
14. Black Bird Designs - Autumn to Spring
15. Primitive Traditions - Plenty and Grace
16. With thy Needle and Thread - Birds of a feather
17. With thy Needle and Thread - Bunny and Co
18. Stacy Nash Primitives - Spotted Hare Pin keep Drum
19. Island Cottage Needle- April Showers Pin keep
20. Erica Michael's - Little bit O Autumn (silk Gauze)
21. Erica Michael's - Woman of Valor
22. Just Cross Stitch - Four Season Band Sampler


PLUS - exchanges and monthly Christmas ornament.
I'm sure they will all be complete by 2020! 


Well,at least I'm organized. I found these lovely mesh bags at Hobby Lobby which are all stuffed into a larger project bag and sitting next to my sewing chair in the living room. I'll be posting completed projects in my sidebar this year so hopefully something will get there soon. 


I still need to order the thread for my BAP from last post. I am almost afraid to look online too with the pile of threads I found I still need.


Thanks for stopping by,
Pam

Sunday, January 1, 2012

BAPPING away

First Happy New Year to all and my you all find more time for stitching and stashing in 2012. I have been working on a BAP as 2011 came to a close. Stitched the dividing bands between the verses and almost two rows of the 0/0 verse. I had to stop because I ran out of thread. I am trying to curb the stash spending in 2012 (at least until I get some stitched) and so I think I'll order the thread online rather than drive to LNS. It is always amazing how much money I spend when I walk in the door. The other thing I find amazing is that with so much stash I still need stuff for projects. I spent some time yesterday sorting and making list of what I need to kitted pieces. It is mind numbing that I have so many fibers and still need more. I am shy about 20 silks and 35 over dye cottons. I'll be starting with what I have complete kits for rather than stashing more for the new year. There are about 15 project bags and at least half of them are BAP's. I knew I had been ignoring them for smaller faster pieces but really not that bad. We are trying to go to the lake for the day so I 'll post the 2012 project list tomorrow. Hope you all get a few stitches in today.


Thanks for stopping by and blogging with me,
Pam