House projects

Too much going on lately to even think about sitting down and writing.  

Things are finally getting done around the house...new garage doors in, downstairs bathroom ripped apart, and new brick walkway and front steps almost complete.   The old bad thing is everything is a mess!  I have measureable amounts of dust all over the living room and my kitchen counter has become a paint a store and we've lost the vacuum. 

Old bathroom...

                                                Work in progress...tile is in

                                 

           Old front of house...forgot to take pic.  But here's the new walkway almost complete.

Sunday Stitching

Another lazy Sunday.....except I had to do laundry, clean out the Saturn, drive Saturn to the In-Laws so they can take ownership (and get it out of my driveway), and make a Home Depot run.  Plus make roasted chickpeas for the hubby.  

At least I got a little time to work on my Christmas fairy...she finally got some boots!

Not enough time

In a moment of weekness I ordered a few things by a new favorite designer, Little House Needleworks. Mrs. O'Leary's Dairy Farm, Louise and Henry, along with all 12 virtuous sheep are now waiting to be stitched.  Plus I also ordered the materials for a stitch along (6 fat me by lizzie Kate) with Knitonestitchtoo.  

That should keep me busy for a while..  .  

Sunday Stitching

There is almost nothing better than going into a store and finding extactly what you need.  Yesterday, I found it at Ikea!!!  I have been looking for some type of clamp light to attach my Needlework System 4 (which I can't believe everyone who stitches doesn't own...I LOVE THIS THING) 

I had purchased/returned so many types of clamp lights it was getting ridiculous (yes, the system 4 needlework people make a light clamp you can buy but it's $74 without the light.  $74 for a clamp??  To me that's a bit overpriced). I had finally settled on a headlamp from Home Depot (don't laugh, it worked) until Knitonestitchtoo sent me a text of the one she uses.  

I made my husband drive the hour to Ikea, we spent 20 minutes, and the drove back.  Best trip ever!  I bought Jansjo and Tived because I couldn't decide.  Both work great and I like Tived for now.  I'll use Jansjo for smaller projects.

Stitching update

I finally feel like I'm making some progress on the headless horseman.  I hit a patch of black so it worked up fast.  

Another week without hubby's ugly blanket getting any bigger.

Wide Awake

I'm wide awake at 6:30 on a Saturday.   What the heck is wrong with me? This is the first day in some time that we have nothing (NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING) that we need to do today.

Yet here I am doing laundry at 6:30 a.m.  Hubby is of course sleeping.....maybe I'll work on the headless horseman so he will stop asking when it's gonna be done.   

Update on the Mirabilia Christmas Fairy.

Moms first day of chemo was yesterday and I took my little project along.  After five long hours, mom was feeling ok (just sleepy) and I had a small section of the bottom of her dress completed.  Think it's to much to ask to sit near a window next time so I can see to stitch lol?  

New car day

After 10 years of owning my truck I had to say goodbye.  It was a sad day until I traded it in for a shiny new 2013 passat.... Its weird having a car from this decade...so many more buttons. 

Hot, hot, hot....

The weather was so nice the last couple days...and then today was 90.  I know it's the end of July but ugh!  Thank god for air conditioning.  

On a happy note, I got to test drive my new car today!  A 2013 Volkswagen Passat will be in mine in a few days. While I'm excited to have a vehicle from this decade, I'm very sad to be getting rid of my beloved truck.  It's been with us for such a long time.    

As for some stitching...

I got home from work a little early and added a few stitches to the headless horseman. Hubby wants it for Halloween (and I'm pretty sure that's not gonna happen but I'll sure try). 

        

Now if I could only bring myself to crochet that horrible ugly blanket he wants.....maybe on another day

Sunday Stitching

I love Sunday mornings...

I usually wake up before the rest of the world (or at least my hubby).  A cup of coffee, a little time with Garth Brooks and something crafty (usually cross stitch or knitting) takes me away from the world for a few hours. The most enjoyable thing...no tv blaring.  What is it with my hubby and that darn tv?  

Today I'm working on Mirabilia's Christmas Elf Fairy.  It came as a kit which I usually not a fan of buying.  Once again I reminded why.  

I started stitching and it turns out that two of the colors (Cupid and Bing Cherry) are too close in color to see the pattern on her dress. Three hours of stitching (why did I keep going???) and even more time time ripping it all back out.  

I started again and it's coming along much better.  This is my first time using Wisper, Krenik, and beads.  Like usual I'm jumping in head first!  

The Beginning

It's a series of tiny things that all happened the first weekend in May 2014 that brings me to starting a blog. A simple girls weekend trip with knitonestitchtoo to Maryland Sheep and Wool will start me on a path I didn't see coming.

We left Mass on a Friday morning and headed down to Maryland.  Lots of yarn to buy and plenty of stops along the way.  I hate car trips so getting me to go on this trip is a miracle.  Knitonestitchtoo drove (and I can't thank her enough) and I planned our route stopping at a yarn store in each state.  

It should be said, we don't live to far from Webs, so stopping at some of the stores was very different that we expected.  Some good, some not so much, but we trucked along till we finally made it to Maryland.

Turns out, we are both not the festival type...to many people! And after a while it all starts to look the same.  At the point where I was yelled at for "cutting in line" by a not so nice vendor (btw, there was no line, I was just entering from the wrong side?????) it was time to go.

We went to the festival for a grand total of three hours...yep a six hour drive, a hotel stay, and we were done in three hours.  Total yarn purchased was only three skeins of yarn.

Turns out this was the best thing that could of happened!  We googled yarn shops in the area and ended up at Cloverhill Yarn shop.   It was a lovely shop.  However, located a few doors down was The Stitching Post.  The cutest cross stitch store with the perfect thing for me to make.  It should be noted I was not a cross stitcher at this point but since Knitonestitchtoo was....I left with all the things I would need for my project.  After a few lessons on stitching over two I was on my way.   My new addiction has taken quite a hold.  

Turns out, taking a unexpected detour from your plans can lead to the best trips....And having a friend to share it with makes it even better!