2 new finishes

Good morning dear friends,
Thank you so much for stopping by.

Last night hubby and I went to dinner and took in a movie, it was nice to get away for an evening.  I really enjoyed the movie, Jack Reacher, if you like Tom Cruise, you'll like the movie. 

I managed to finish two ornaments this morning, my 2 last pieces before the holiday activity begins. 

Season of Love by LHN

Kringles Crow by Threadwork Primatives

 

I really floppled back and forth with makeing them into pillow ornaments, but I didn't like the fabric I had and then I just stared at the machine  wondering if I really was going to take my time, the answer was no, so I did flat ornaments and I think they came out really well.

I am having withdrawls from my LNS, I haven't been in a few weeks so I am wondering if I should head up, you  know, just to say hello and take a peak...

I wish you all a Merry Christmas, please be safe and blessed.

Dawn

A finish and a crazy 24 hours

Last night my son showed me some posts on Facebook, sadly there was chatter about impending gun violence for today,  I called the school regarding the matter, though I didn't believe it was a matter to call the police, I felt the school needed to know, apparently a lot of parents called the police, it was a ghost town on campus this morning and there were police all over.  This is a combined middle and high school with over 2000 students.  Even after this all ended the rumors were still going on that a gun was found in a locker.  It is so hard to keep kids focused and think when all this is going on.  

Here is the article from our local news.

Teen arrested in Glen Este HS threats

Tom McKee, tmckee@wcpo.com
Dec 21, 2012 3:15 p.m.

A 15-year-old girl was arrested Friday for inducing panic and tampering with evidence. Police say she made threats on Facebook about possible violence at Glen Este High School and Middle School.
Dr. Gary Brooks, West Clermont schools superintendent, said the school board is recommending the student be suspended for ten days and eventually face expulsion.
The girl told authorities she initiated the post about a shooting "to see what would happen," according to Union Township Police Lt. Scott Gaviglia. She's been booked in the Clermont County Jail. Investigators say the threat was focused on the middle school.
Gaviglia said the teen's Facebook post caused hundreds of concerned parents to call the police department Thursday and prompted other parents to keep their children out of school for the day.
Brooks said about half of the middle school student body was absent on Friday and absenteeism was up slightly at the high school.
West Clermont Schools Superintendent Dr. Gary Brooks said the threat was taken seriously and there were extra police on the Glen Este campus Friday morning as school began -- both uniformed and undercover -- as a precaution.
There are no other suspects. Gaviglia said rumors of police finding a weapon at the school are unfounded and the case is closed.
Scripps Only Content 2012


On a better note I finished this ornament for my mom today.  It's from the 2012 jcs ornament issue,  I have 2 more finishes that should be ready for tomorrow.  I'm happy that my finishing skills are getting better!  I'm a work in progress.

 and the puppies are ready to go to grandma's house for Christmas...

 Hopefully tomorrow I can share with you the other two ornaments in the works...
have a wonderful evening

Dawn

Hail

Good morning everyone! Lets see, yesterday I took a trip to Joann's, hobby lobby and Michaels looking for a particular kind of yarn and didn't find what I wanted, but I did find some beautiful chunky like yarn and started an afghan.m. I started it 3 times, lol only to rip it all out this morning and start over, my OCD kicked in with the chain 207 and by row 3 I was convinced I added to many, but this morning it started out fine, except I think I need to go back and find another color, I bought all they had of the dye lot but I don't I have enough for an afghan. Oh and I had to track down a whole different pattern, the "easy" one I initially picked left me more confused than ever, but I found a ripple/ v stitch one and I'm excited to see the finished product.

My winter plaid is on hold as I wait for additional thread to show up. I did manage to complete season of love, it's so cute, I need some quick gifts so I may try to whip out 2 more Ronnie's this week.

We had crazy downpours yesterday while I was at the Highschool, when I got home our subdivision had hail all over, we had a little pile over 5" deep, but alas it's gone. We are finally supposed to have some winter weather by Thursday. Yeah!!!

Well I'm off to make some cut outs, I've put it off long enough...I hope everyone has a blessed week.

Hugs and stitches,
Dawn

Catching up

Hello friends,

Welcome to my newest followers, thank you for stopping by.  As always I think I'll get some time to sit and stitch and well, life happens:)  Weekends are no good for my stitching time, always something going on ,but this is a hobby, not a race.

I just finished a batch of peanut butter blossoms, last night M&M cookies, I am undecided if I will make cut outs or gingersnaps.  It's not very productive when the kids keep coming in for taste testing, have to run them down to the freezer before they are gone.

I have two little projects going on at the moment, Season of Love, by LHN, it looks like something I could do in a day but that isn't happening :)  the other is another LHN, Winter Plaid but I ran out of a color and my lns didn't have it and I just received a email from the ONS i placed an order with last week and was told they are out of it too.  I wish the pattern would have mentioned it requires 2 skeins.  It is what it is and we move on!  I have everything ready to work on baby it's cold outside, I am undecided on my color of fabric choice, she was out of "ale" so i choose an autumn gold, the colors are beautiful on it but I'm not sure if I should order ale, what do you think....the fabric has more of an orange hue to it that what the picture shows...

 My progress on winter plaid...

My Stitchers choice that I made for HOE exchange

Season of Love by CCN in the July / Aug 2010 magazine JCS

I love it, I think I'll make another for myself

Kringles Crow by Threadwork Primative

not sure how to finish it, having a bit of a block by I love it, the red just captivates me...

 My two knucklehead pups each chewing on a end of nylabone, I've got them all over the house but they always want what the other has

I hope everyone has a wonderful upcoming week, keep the CT families in our prayers as we move forward...

Christmas Giveaway

Barbara at To Stitch or Not to stitch having a wonderful giveaway.

Exchange Received and a finish

Good morning everyone,
Our internet was acting weird yesterday so I wasn't able to post last night this wonderful exchange I received from Shannon, this is the second private exchange I've done with her and I look forward to more in the future, she made these two beautiful ornaments and added tiny little beads and added some goodies into the package    here are some pics

this is what I sent to her, it is Gingerbread Tree by LHN in the July August 2010 JCS sneak peak christmas ornament magazine, I did however, forget to take pictures of the goodies I sent her...

I just came back upstairs from finishing two ornaments, I can only share one with you as the other is going out in the mail tomorrow for HOE stitchers choice ornament.

I did Love and Joy by JBW from the 2011 JCS Christmas ornie issue.  It was a very fast stitch.  I'm pleased with the overall outcome.  It hit me this week that I've done several ornaments but nothing for myself.  So I went to work, I also started Kringles Crow by Threadwork Primatives last night and will try to work on it more today

 Now off to bake cookies for the stitch in this evening at our LNS...

Thanks for stopping by...I do love all your comments, I learn so much from all these blogs and the friendships I've formed.

Blessings to all,
Dawn

RAK received

Good evening everyone,

Look at this beautiful RAK Christmas ornament from Angela, we did a private exchange in the fall and what she mailed to me never arrived and she was kind enough to send me another one.  The finishing on it is beautiful! It's a LK pattern and she used DMC threads, stitched on lugana.

I managed to find some stitching interest today, finished stitching my exchange piece, I'll work on making it an ornament later this week while it's raining as predicted for 5 strait days.  Then I decided to stitch an ornament for myself, since I haven't done one this year for my ornie tree.  I pulled out the 2011 JCS ornie magazine and started Love and Joy by JBW, it's a quick stitch, I believe I will have it completed by tomorrow.

Friday night is the monthly stitch in, I plan on attending this one!  It's the cookie exchange meeting, my kids are done with soccer games, practices and meetings, the DD isn't scheduled to work, I won't be rushed.  I always take something to stitch when I do attend, but never pull it out, I paruze the store, gab a bit, and end up making a purchase of some sort.  It's a beautiful store, but you add 15+ women in it and there isn't any room, and I can't stitch well without my magnifier, I have the little one that attaches to the Q snaps, but I find it frustrating and just have more admiring everyone else's projects.

WEll, time to get dinner in the oven, working on a Shepherds Pie.  Yumm.

Blessings to everyone
Dawn

Exchange Received and Christmas decoration

Hello dear friends,

First I want to say hello to any newcomers that have signed up to follow me, "Hello" and thank you for stoping by.

I've been spending time with family (hubby had a 4 day weekend) and decorating the house, I have barely done any stitching, I did manage to do some yesterday, well, more ripping then stitching, I found a mistake and well it got the best of me so rip I did.  I am still working on Winter Plaid and an exchange piece that I need to mail by the 15th.

 received a Christmas ornament from Hooked On Exchanges- stitchers choice exchange yesterday, it really made my day since I've been waiting on two other exchanges that were  mailed in early Nov and have yet to get to me,  but receiving one yesterday put a smile on my face.  Becky at Stitchin Post really spoiled me with some goodies...

some Lindor truffles, a glue stick, floss, scissors, thread, and hand sanitizer

a ornament from borduurblog.blogspot.com, dmc fibers and opalescent linen from her stash,
Its so cute that it is a real stitching ornament

What else have I been up to?  Christmas decorating, in and out of the house

Top is our family tree in the great room, the second is outside decorating so far, I have icicles to hang, well, DH needs to hang :) and lastly my stitching tree in our study, it has more ornaments on it than you can see, but I call it my charlie brown tree.  So far so good with Chloe, at 9 months old she has left the tree, tinsel and ornaments alone, but she did grab my bread off the island yesterday when I turned my back to reach into the fridge...she is so tall now she gets into kitchen naughtiness easily now, it's hard to  redirect the dogs since the great room, eating area and kitchen are all one giant room...

It's been incredible warm here in southern Ohio, we had temps of 72 yesterday, and another warm day today except rain will be here this morning, makes it a good day to stitch!  I hope everyone has a blessed week and a smile on their face.

Blessings

crafting

Good afternoon dear friends,

I haven't done much stitching this week, but I have been working on some other things.
Holiday Wreath,

Today I thought I'd try my hand at a glass block, $12.00 after coupons to make it, I think it took me longer to make the blasted bow then it did to make the purchase.  I think I got it down now, will think about making a few more as gifts, not sure yet.  I've been spending to much time looking at Pintrest...I love that site.

Other than that, I've put the lights up outside, watching movies with DH and fireplace on, and reading blogs.  I just can't seem to get moving on my stitching, I get distracted with other Christmas crafty things.  I've been looking through books and magazines trying to find an easy themed Christmas table runner, I think I've found one.  My sewing skills are moderate at best so I need to start easy...
thats it for now, time to take the cookies out of the oven...

blessings to all
Dawn

Happy Thanksgiving

Good morning dear friends,
It's been a week since I last posted, I've been around, mostly reading everyone else's blogs, looking at everyones pretty finishes and fall to Christmas transformations.

I wanted to take this time to thank you for your friendship through stitches.  Today and for the next few days will be busy with family showing up, cooking starting, feasting and football tomorrow, chaos over the weekend.  No, I do not go to black friday shopping, I will swing by the LNS for small business Sat hopefully, by dear daughter has to work at the mall on Friday and Saturday.  Her little job at the Dairy Queen in the middle of the mall.
I have pulled 2 turkeys out the freezer on Monday, they will come into a cold bath today as MIL will be coming this afternoon and we will be cooking in the late night.

I have been stitching on Winter Plaid by LHN here and there, my slow progress, but it sure is pretty..

I haven't made much stitching progress, i've been spending time on Pinterest and trying my luck at some lil decorative trees for my mantel.  I did a sequin one, and a ribbon one, tried to decorate the third with cranberry beads and I didn't like all the spaces so I stripped it down, peeled all the hot glue off and will do something else, lol.

When I was home last month, I ran out to the vineyard and cut some grape vines, harvesting is long over with and I have always wanted one of these trees, they are soo expensive, and since I grew up on a grape farm, I was going to take advantage of being home and grab some vines and make one for myself.  It took 2 days to make since I had to soak the vines over several days and my wash tub is small.  I think it came out well for my first attempt.  Perhaps there won't be snow at Christmas and dad won't have mowed the brush and I can grab more.  I would love to have a 4 " one.

I also picked up my Home of a Needleworker (too) by LHN from having it framed, it is so pretty, I really love it.  I was hoping that the new Season of Love ornament was in so I ran up to the store yesterday, but alas, it wasn't.  I have this bad luck that by the time I get there she is always sold out so I tried to beat her to the punch and they haven't arrived yet. My Baby it's cold outside chart remains on backorder too.  Disappointing yes, but as all of us stashers know, it's not like we don't have projects to work on...nuff said.

Weather you are traveling across town, across the country or staying home, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels.

Blessings,
Dawn

Exchange received

Good afternoon friends,

We had a beautiful weekend and only to wake up to rain and cold temps, it was 62 this morning and now it's in the low 40's and working it's way down low.  It's been a great day for me to work on exchange finishes and do some stitiching.  My current project is LHN Winter Plaid, and a few Christmas ornies.

Lainey posted the Fall round of Stitched with love...now I can share my goodies with you..

This is what I received from My partner Catherine, I also learned from her that her husband, herself and I all graduated from the same college, same year!  I thought that was awesome.

This is what I sent to my partner Lisa M.
This is a Homespun Elegance chart done on stash material using  DMC floss.  Pattern name is ABC Cat.

Well that is it for now.  Enjoy your week!
Blessings,
Dawn



New start, and exchange received

Good afternoon dear friends,

thank you for stopping by, I've been trying to do a blog update on my IPad and keep getting an error message so since I received an exchange piece today, I had to sit down at the computer and do a post.

So, lets play catch up!

Seasonal exchange received today from Stephanie at Blue Star Stitcher, it is a cute squirrel, but I don't know the name of the pattern, anyways, it is just adorable, which reminds me, I haven't seen a squirrel in our yard since Chloe joined our family??  I'll have to find out when I post to the seasonal exchange blog.

Then I received some on line stash on Friday...i'm addicted to LHN and CCN...

So after going to my folks on Friday night, and being hyped up, I finished an ornie for a private exchange, so I can't show you that one...on to the next

Before I left my parents grape farm, I ran out to the vineyard and cut a bunch of vines, I've decided to make a grapevine tree, they are soaking in the laundry room right now.  I've wanted one for ages and stopped to price them, I think not!, espicialy when my childhood home is 40 acres of grapes....so wish me luck :)  hope to work on that this week.

So Monday brought me up to my LNS to deliver the Shepherds Bush piece, yeh ( and get paid, double Yeh!)  I bought some threads and linen for the above patterns...

but...I started on Winter Plaid by LHN that I ordered and got about 3 weeks ago, it's been killing me to start it but I knew I had to finish the SB piece.   Also I asked if she had Baby it's cold outside and she said she sold out over the weekend...No.....but she will order one for me.  I've seen it on so many blogs this past few weeks and have fallen in love with it so I have that one to look forward to.

Oh, I also went to JoAnn's and bought a Ott light, it was half off and then I was a day late on the 25% off coupon, as I paid for it and walked out, I noticed tomorrow starts their Veteran's day sale, so the light has been in my car all week, tomorrow I will return it and repurchase it at the half off and the 20% off that I get with my military dependant ID, that should knock it down to about $80 dollars.  It's the only thing I've treated myself with, besides all the books, threads and fabrics (shh, we won't tell DH)

I always miss the sale or they are always sold out, so this time, i'll just return the bugger and rebuy at the cheaper price, besides, I own stock in this store, just go through my bins of fabric  ;)

lets see, just the cutest lil Frenchie photo, just made me grin, I wonder if Duncan wouldn't mind wearing a hat like that??

Have a great week everyone!!

Blessings

Dawn

not just a happy dance....a disco party!!!

Good afternoon friends, thank you for taking time to visit with me today.  I have been hiding, working hard to finish this Shepherds Bush Toy Gatherer as a contracted piece for my LNS.  I am so happy to report  I'm Done  :)  The stitching that is, I have to put the wool as his beard and since I don't know how to do that, my lns said she would show me how, doesn't look to complicated, but I want to do it right since this isn't my piece.  It's a large piece and done on 32 count linen.  I love the colors but the pattern is a difficult one with a lot of blank areas that you have to use the outline to fill in.  Plenty of beading to, I am pleased with it.  The weight is off my shoulders and I can enjoy working on exchanges and starting on some stuff for me.  I bought Plaid house from LHN a few weeks ago and have been wanting to start it but I didn't, yet, I will this weekend.

This afternoon the kids and I are heading up to Erie to visit my parents, I havent' seen them since end of July, and then I'll see them for Christmas.  It's a 5 hour drive.  If our kids has busing to and from school I'd proabably go more often but between sports and one working, I am the taxi.   Mom gave me her Janome embroidery machine over the summer, I stuffed my trailblazer with stuff, and now I can grab the rest of the "stuff"  I'm looking forward to learning how to use it. 

Well, enjoy the weekend, stay warm,

Blessings,

Dawn 

just waving hello ~ Tough Mudder

Good morning dear friends,

I don't have any pictures to share with you of stitchy stuff.  I've been working hard on the shepherds bush piece, almost to the home stretch, backstitching and beading hopefuly by next week.
So, what have I been doing?

Somehow I bumped my little baby boy Duncan on his leg on Sunday and he let out this scream that sent the whole family in the room to see what happened, I'm still not sure as I didn't know he was next to me when I went to get up but I bumped his leg, somehow he hurt his back and we've been back and forth to the vet twice this week for pain management.  He is stoned!  on muscle relaxers, pain relivers and anti inflamatories.  He is no longer allowed to jump up or down on the couch.   he can barley make it up the steps from going outside.  I feel so bad, we think it is a disk issuse and needs to be taken seriously so he doesn 't injure it worse.   Little girl Chloe had a well check up and the beast is 60 pounds at 8 months old !  we are trying to keep her from playing rough with Duncan, it hasn't been easy. 

I also made it to my LNS, I figure I had to drive 10 miles to the vet, I was halfway to her store and the car just took me there.  I boght some more stash and some patterns to include in some upcoming exchages I'm in.  I also go some WDW and GAST that are required for some ornaments I am working on for said exchanges.  I also treated myself to a chart called Kringles Crow from Threadwork Primatives. 

I have finished my turkey pykeep that i am doing for Hooked on Exchanging.  I just need to turn it into the pynkeep.  I acturally made a cute one by Sam Sarah but I didn't like the finished piece enough to send to my partner so I did another one that I think is just right.

  DH ran in the ky Tough Mudder this past weekend, it was awesome.  My daughter and I volunteerd to avoind having to pay $40 each at the door!  We got up at 3:30 am to be out the door by 4 am, little over an hours drive (all hotels were booked) took a bus to the site, a 2000 acre all terain vehicle place that the event was at, we were able to choose our assignment, we choose to mark foreheads and body parts with their assigned numbers, it was so much fun and the people who participated were a hoot.  There were 7000 people who did it on Sat and another 3000 on Sunday.  We figure with the 10 of us volunteering we did close to 700 foreheads a piece!  OK, so I did get to take a quick breat to see DH start the race.  It was fantastic, did I mention how great it was?  Very patriotic as they donate to the Wounded Warrior fund and had wounded warriors participate.   This was over an 11 mile obstcle course, DH said it wasn't so much the obstcles that were difficult but the hills were very steep and of course muddy.  when our shift was over, DD and I went down into the course to watch, we saw so many injured people coming off the course on ATV's, then I started to worry about DH hurting his arm again (last year he had to have his bicep tendon reattached to his bone :( )  so I waited and waited and found out the people we were watching were from the 8 am group just finishing at 1pm, there was no way we could stay and watch to see DH as DD had to be at work by 5.  She crashed in the car on the way home.
DH did finish, took him 6 hours and when he got home he could barely walk, I am so pround of him!! 
Picture time :

Duncan so stoned last night he fell asleep standing!

This course was designed by British Special forces, this is not a race, it is a challange.  it includes walking through a pond in chest high ice cubes, going through a electicaly charged jungle of wires, some are hot, some are not, but you find out quickly.