Sunday stitching

Yes, I'm finally able to squeeze in a few hours stitching. I couldn't sleep this morning, so I was up early. Although, my progress doesn't look like much because it's mostly outlining that little bird project that I took on last month. I should be finished with it later today if I'm able to go back to it.

Saturday night

This is crazy . . . . it's been too long without posting, I really want to make a go at this blogging, but I'm pretty lousy lately. I haven't done anything in the craft department this week. I'm either working or something else is going on. I think I'm just unorganized. Anyway, as for the good news I weighed in this morning and I lost 3.8 pounds! I'm excited about that, but I don't know where the rest of the day went! It's like my other days. Actually I do, just alot of running errands. Okay I'm working more during the week, but no more then some of the other crafters out there. I think I need to write a schedule and stick to it. Well, lets hope it's a better day tomorrow and I can get something done. Heck, it's my day off and I have nothing planned, but I do need to work out and clean house a little, although if it's as beautful tomorrow as it was today I may never get anything done!



I just discovered this great little tool which may help with my weight loss journey. My cousin and I are both going to Weight Watchers and she lost 3.8, too. She is doing flex and I'm on core. I hope I can get to my goal by Christmas.

Have a great evening, or what's left of it.

Monday news

Yesterday, I spent most of the day on one of my quilt blocks. I'm done with it, except for the detailed stitching around the tree. I still haven't had a chance to shop for ribbons and floss. I'm going to put the quilt blocks aside for now and concentrate on cross-stitching. Here is a photo of my "stitching station", near me on the couch. I can pick up one of my projects while I'm watching tv.

Fancy coffee table? No, it's really one of those blue Rubbermaid tubs full of stash! I'm pretty spoiled around here, I have the laptop to my left on the couch. Just in case I'm too lazy to get up and walk to the office.

As for work, today the school district had a district-wide staff meeting and your choice of class after the meeting (like an inservice). It was short work day for me, because I'm a part-timer I'm not required to stay the full 8 hours. It was nice not having to go in to work this morning and face the onslaught of children that we've had since school started. That's not going to change until next summer (sigh).

Have a great evening everyone!

a little progress

As you can see either not much is happening or too much is happening and I haven't had a chance to write. Yes, it's been a little busy around here, but I'm not stitching like I wanted to. I worked split shifts all week last week and it does take a lot out of me. I love working with children, but they are starting to wear me out!

Block 8: Three Story with Dormers

Actually, this block is finished except for the embroidery around the tree. Since I noticed the other block's windows are not finished I'm going to work on those this month and get them out of the way. Today it's back to Dutch Duplex and finish it for sure, and then cross-stitching again. Oh, I'm not the greatest quilter, as you can tell. This is my first real hand applique quilt. Others I've done are on the machine, but my machine doesn't do the best of stitches. I would like to take a quilting class when work slows down a bit.

Saturday morning my cousin and I went to Weight Watchers. I really didn't want to go down that road again, but I must. She's desperate to get the weight off before her son's wedding in January, and I just want to fit back into my clothes again! By then we both should be at our goal weight or should I say, back to our goal weight!. Wish us luck!

Wow!

I can't beleive it's been a week since I last posted. I've been busy working split shifts (again!) and then running my usual errands and dentist appts. in between. I have also been reading other blogs and sad that I can't be just as productive as others. I did make a little progress on my quilt blocks, just finishing up the windows on block #4 called Dutch Duplex. Hopefully, I can get to one of the local shops this weekend to purchase the required floss and ribbon for these blocks. I thought maybe I would scrap the idea of ribbon embroidery and stitch with floss instead. So I'm on the fence about that. As for my other stitchery projects, I better get busy, this month is almost half way over and I had such high hopes.

I love collecting dishes. These cups I collected last summer and I have them displayed on my hutch. In the near future I want to put shelves up in my dining room and display my collection of dishes. Right now I have many dishes stored in the garage because there is just not enough room on my hutch. Maybe I need a bigger hutch! Anyway, I love these cups. If you like Bailey's you may remember these.

Have a great day!

window, windows, windows!

Okay, I spent most of the day on my qulit block, what was left was the windows. Ugh! Then I looked at my previous blocks that I thought I finished -- no way, the windows were not done! No wonder I stopped working on them. Anyway, the night is not over, I think I will stop and cross-stitch before I scream. I will be working most of the day tomorrow and Friday, so I will do as much as I can tonight. Dh will be home late tonight and tomorrow night, so I'm sure I can get a lot done. Besides that, I really need to get myself to the gym .... soon!

nothing accomplished

This morning, work ran pretty smooth considering we had a good number of children. Poor kids, I don't do all the fun projects I use to do, there are just too many of them (I have to keep my eyes on everybody) and the morning just flies by. I wanted to make pancakes this morning, but it just wasn't possible. Maybe on Friday when the numbers are a little lower. Although, by 9:00 they are all gone and in class, then I just have 4 kindergartners who go to class at 12:00, but my day is over at 10:15am.

Anyway, I came home did a little paperwork, watched the news, went online, and then made lunch. I had my dentist appt. today, which I don't mind too much, but sheesh I was there for almost 3 hours! My day was shot after that. I got home just in time to rattle those pots and pans! I have nothing planned tomorrow afternoon, so I'm going to make it a productive day. I don't know which craft I'm going to do, but it will be something with a needle and thread involved. Of course, I'll be reading other blogs, I just love to see what others are doing -- there are some really clever people out there, who must be great at prioritizing their time, because I can never be able to accomplish anything!

BOM's on the back burner

This morning I was thinking about my "block of the month" quilt that I started back in 1999, which of course was put on the back burner and forgotten. I have about 4 big plastic tubs with fabric stash, unfinished projects, completed small quilts, linens that I've collected and some cross-stitch projects that dd made when she was alot younger. Anyway, back to the "block of the month" by City Stitcher called Quilted Village, they were stored in one of the plastic tubs.

I received them monthly from Keepsake Quilting. I've completed 7 out of the 12 blocks, except for the embroidery that needs to be done. I think I may re-do 3 of the blocks. I must have experimented at the time and appliqued them by machine. I don't like it. So those will have to be re-done. Anyway, I spent the better part of the day working on block #8. I'm almost done, except the embroidery, of course, but that will come. I need to buy silk ribbon. Each block is a kit with pattern and fabric, but doesn't come with floss or silk ribbon. I will post my progress here, as well as other projects that I have started or trying to finish or in the middle of. That way I think it will keep me on task and inspire me to finish my craft projects.

So my September goals are:

finish Quilted Village block #8
finish little bird cross-stitch
Bent Creek October Curls
continue the Folk Sampler by Dreamer's Tapestry

I think that's enough for now. I already know that I'll be subbing extra hours at work this month, so hopefully I can stick to these goals. Who knows, I may be adding other projects as the weeks go by.

Take care everyone!

Sunday Morning

Yesterday we had some of friends over for a bbq. It was small group, not like our previous gatherings. My aunt and uncle came down from LA, which can be a frustrating drive in So. Calif. Anyway, she brought me the cutest night light she made. Plus she gave me two more to give to my cousins who live near me. I asked her if she could teach me how to make them, so I'll be driving up there in a couple of weeks. I think they would make great holiday gifts and something different. She makes all kinds of beaded items and sells them at craft fairs. They are really nice. For my birthday she made me a little beaded coin purse -- so cute. She sells a lot of those.

After most of our guests left, my neighbor and his grandkids were here swimming. It was sort of a cool evening, but the water was warm, so I swam for a little bit. I thought I'd better work off some of the food I ate. I was pleased this morning when I jumped on the scale and it stayed the same. I am so relieved. This summer is taking a toll on my body and not going to the gym like I usually do is not helping matters. So after Labor Day, I am back on track, watch what I eat and get more exercise. I thought I was doing that, but my body is telling me differently.

Today is a lazy day. We'll be going to backyard party later today. Other than that I just want to stay home and stitch again. Although my dd is wanting me to take her to the mall, so I may have to squeeze that in. She'll be going back to school on Tuesday and wants to leave today.

Oh, I almost forgot! I received two more patterns from ebay auctions. One is a vintage apron pattern and the other is a Vogart transfer pattern, "Dutch Treat". I am falling in love with vintage embroidery. I've always liked them, whenever my cousin Chris and I go "antique shopping", I always head straight for the linens with embroidery on them. I bought a few, but I want to make my own. I was excited when I opened the envelope and there were other transfers enclosed, some that I have been wanting.

Take care and have great weekend!

Hurricane Katrina

I feel too sad to post, today. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families along the gulf coast. I just can't imagine being in the devastation that I have seen on the news this week. I have so much planned this weekend and now I don't have the motivation.