Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Another crazy finish!!

It's been crazy busy here lately and I truly  need things to slow down!!  I did have a "do nothing Saturday" last weekend and with a few hours here and there the past couple of days I was able to finish another crazy!  I'm stoked!!  So without further ado, here is a picture of 1797 Ship Sampler from Carriage House Samplings.  It was stitched on 40 count straw over two threads using DMC floss.  I really love the way it looked when it was finished.  Can't wait to get it framed! 


I've spent some time with Astrid lately, we went to the ballgame in Washington to see the Orioles and the Nationals duke it out.  The Orioles won the previous two nights and I knew it was going to be an interesting game.  I saw something that day I hadn't seen before, the National Anthem played on a violin made out of a baseball bat.  Check this out!!

The Orioles started out ahead, but when I took my eyes off the game (to sneak some ice cream with Astrid) the Nationals suddenly came from behind.  It was up and down, but finally the Nationals won the game.  It was a fun day!  Next time we'll have to meet at the Orioles ballpark!  I didn't realize til later that it was Astrid's wedding anniversary.  Happy Anniversary you guys, and may you have many many more!






I have to marvel at the relationship my husband has with our cat, Thomas.  The love to hate each other, but as with most cats, we are there for his convenience.  He was chilly the night this picture was taken.  Doesn't it look like they love one another...you should see them MOST of the time.  I'm surprised DH has any skin not shredded to bits!

I had a busy day today so I'm headed upstairs to stitch, whatever will I stitch on tonight?  I have 3 more days before the next sections of Sweet Flowers and Lavender Blue come out so I had better make my crazy stitching count!!  Night!

Thursday, May 17, 2012

It's a Sun Shine Day!

Hello friends and fellow stitchers!  It's a beautiful day today, I'm thankful I'm not at work so I can enjoy the sunshine!!  Usually I'm stuck in the back windowless room at the store on beautiful days like today...begging customers to let me carry their framed artwork to the car so I can enjoy a few stolen moments of sunshine.

I've had a busy couple of weeks, mainly running to appointments in between prepping things to be framed at the store.  My numb thumb seems to be getting a bit better, I can't remember if I told you all it seems to be from carpal tunnel and arthritis in one of my thumb joints.  I wear a wrist splint at night now and that seems to be slowly  helping me out, all except for the arthritis.  It hasn't prevented me from stitching but it has slowed me down some.  Getting old is NOT for sissies!  LOL  I keep praying that it doesn't get to the point where I can't stitch anymore.  

So I have some stitching to show you these days.  I finally finished up the required stitching for Lavender Blue.  Here's a close up shot of what I worked on recently, and another shot of how it looks all together.  The "lacy" part of this design nearly drove me to distraction but I finally finished it up...and now that it's done I like the effect.



Now I'm free to stitch on something I have wanted to do for ages.  The 1797 Ship Sampler from Carriage House.  I've been asked what I stitched this on, it's 40 count Straw linen stitched over two threads.  I have loved this sampler since I saw it hanging on my pal Sonya's wall and knew I eventually had to stitch it.  Sadly I have been so busy lately that I haven't had much time to stitch on the "crazies" but hopefully I'll finish up another one before this month is over.  Wish me luck!! 



I had a lovely surprise last week when these beautiful flowers arrived.  The card with them said it was from my "sports fan kids".  I love flowers, what a beautiful Mother's Day surprise!






I saw this on facebook today and just had to show it here too.  This really is a perfect diagram of how my mind works.  I'm tempted to print it out and hand it to my boss so maybe he can get a little insight into how the old thought factory works.  Should I?



Off to enjoy this lovely day before the guys get home and the busy-ness begins again.  I had a hair appointment this morning, then this afternoon we have eye appointments.  The better to see you with my dears!  I'll catch you again soon!  *Hugs*

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

St. Michaels Weekend!

I've been a baaaad blogger lately.  Too many things going on and I feel like life is spinning out of control. I wonder if things will slow down once summer hits?  Hm...looking at my calendar I am afraid it won't...*sigh*.   Well it looks like I'll have to blog when I can, and hope that my faithful followers will drop in when they can.  I did get a comment on my previous post from Carolyn (thanks for checking up on me Carolyn, your comment made my day!).  So in answer to your question, yes, I'm ok.  

I remember when my parents friends got together, they used to complain about their health and discussed matters at length.  Yes, I feel like I've reached that stage in my life, and I'm NOT liking it!  LOL  Let's just say it's been just over two years since my cancer diagnosis and I'm still dealing with issues.  I am tired and maybe a little discouraged, but as that great lady, Babs, reminds me, this too shall pass.  I just wish it would pass a little more quickly!!

So...why the long absence lately?  Well, I had a pretty exciting weekend to prepare for!  Anyone who has read my blog for any length of time knows that the first weekend in May is St. Michaels weekend!  As soon as the weekend ends we begin the countdown for next year.  It's an amazing group of ladies that meet up to stitch the weekend away, and I feel so blessed to be part of this funny, uplifting, encouraging, enabling, crazy group of women.  Truly my sides ached by the end of the weekend.  We don't get to see each other often enough, and I wish I still worked with them.  They are more like family to me than my own family, and I love them to pieces!




There happened to be a supermoon the weekend we shared, so of course I HAD to get a picture!!


There is something about this place, it's quiet, peaceful, relaxing and it truly feels like we've been pulled out of the hectic, crazy, fast-paced world we live in and plunked down in a little garden of paradise where time stands still.  I only wish it could last a little longer!







I have been crazy busy lately, with my son getting ready to finish up his Junior year of high school, with all the tests, activities, pre-senior events (senior pictures were taken yesterday...YIKES!), baseball activities and spring chores, preparing for summer activities (DS is taking two trips this summer to Florida and a missions trip to Mexico), getting all the driving and schools in for DS to get his license, not to mention I'm back to working a few more hours at the frame shop.  It seems overwhelming at times.  I haven't had much time to stitch or even relax.  I decided this week that I'm going to cut out some extracurricular activities.  They told us it would take at least a year after treatment ended, if not two, to get all our strength back, but I'm bullheaded and didn't believe them.  LOL  Well, I finally realized I'm not super woman, as much as I like to think I am.  So...I'm letting the guys pamper me a little more and when I'm tired, I say that I am and I rest.  They have been very accommodating at work, and I'm so grateful.  And I'm afraid that means that my stitching will slow down and so will my blog entries.  I like being a little crazy, it helps get me through this maze I call my life, but I don't want to end up in a padded cell.  I hope you'll bear with me.

So here's what I've been able to accomplish in the past week or so.  This is the latest installment of Sweet Flowers, that I was able to finish before the deadline.  I've been working on Lavender blue, but haven't finished that just yet.  Hopefully I will soon as the deadline is getting closer!






I did get the next installment of Dawn of Spring stitched...but the next part will be out soon, hopefully I'll be able to get back on track with that!  This is offered in the Friendly Stitcher's Yahoo group and has been a fun stitch so far!


My garden is starting to bloom, and though I only have this one picture, it's a veritable feast for the eyes right now!  Hopefully soon I'll have time to take more pictures and show you what's happening outside my windows.




For now, I'll say ta ta, and try to get back soon.  The rest of the week is full to the brim with things to do (I hope I find some time to stitch!!) but I'll try to keep you all in the loop.  Have a great day!