Cute idea.

First finish for 2011

Wow. I have finished something and it is only January 15, 2011. A new record for me. 

I need to take a picture of mine, but in the meantime here is a picture of the pattern. I'm quite pleased with it.

Happy 2011!!!

I changed my background. I also added the items I finished and works in progress (WIPS).

Congratulations Matt & Cindy!

My nephew Matt was married today to a wonderful woman named Cindy. It was a beautiful wedding. Congratulations!

Happy Thanksgiving!

What are you grateful for? I am grateful for my family, my health, friends, and the fact I live in America, as a free person. We are so blessed. Have a great day!

I am a nerd

Spending time tonight trying to copy files from my moldy oldy laptop. So far, no such luck. XP and Windows 7 aren't that compatible. Thank you Microsoft.

Other happier topics: BYU 57 UNLV 7. At last, the Cougars put a complete game together.

Utes 7 TCU 47. Um, what a wipeout. The Utes are exposed for the posers they are. Go TCU to the title game.

I started stitching a Christmas ornament for an ornament exchange on Friday, Dec 7. Very pretty and classic. (I'll post the picture after the exchange.) I should finish it this week, then I can get on with the other stitching I am going to do for Christmas.

I have figured out gifts for Christmas for everyone. woo hoo. Now, just to finish them by Dec 25.

This is a short work week, I have Friday off. It's going to be hard to go back to regular vacation time next year.

Well, back to nerd-city.

P.S. I added labels to the posts I haven't labeled yet. I now have a sticky note to remind me to put labels on my posts. Like I said, such a nerd.

Elizabeth Smart

Woo hoo. 10 District Court of Appeals has denied Brian David Mitchell's appeal for a change of venue. The trial will resume Monday morning at 8:30 am. May this 8 1/2 year nightmare finally come to an end for Elizabeth and her family.

Oops! New background and maybe new fonts

I just spent the last hour trying to change the font on my title. It didn't work. I'm done for the night.

I also changed the background. I like it a lot. I'll be fiddling with the look for the next while though, I'm still a long ways off.

No news. Still working and stitching. Off the oxygen except at night. I see the pulmonologist on Monday. Hopefully I can get rid of the tank and the portable oxygen unit.

Oh. I did vote yesterday. Woo hoo and congratulations to all the winners. I did want the Republicans to take the Senate, but they didn't. Perhaps in 2012. Congress now has an opportunity to listen to the American people and change some things.

2 more pictures

I forgot! I also bought the new Shepherds Bush Christmas stocking at the retreat. fun one. It is called Sadie and there is a story about their great-aunt Sadie. I just love their Christmas stockings.

 And as promised, a picture of my progress on the Halloween Quaker sampler. It might be done by Halloween 2011. :)

This is actually an old photo. I am down to the white bar at the bottom. Woo hoo! 1/3 of the way done. Here we come, Halloween 2011. :)

And for my next collection of patterns, I want the Jenny Bean samplers. Theresa of Shakespeare's Peddler has designed several samplers and ornaments for Jenny Bean. And now there are Jenny Bean and friends. Sigh. Belle Pepper from Little House Needleworks, Winifred Sue from Crown & Thistle, etc. Very clever idea.

Shepherds Bush retreat pictures

I did take my camera to the retreat, but it never made it out of my suitcase. So... here are pictures of the pieces we received in class.

The first day at about 2:00 pm we registered. We received a neat bag and a kit to make a button to go with the bag. Here is my bag with the button attached. I did change the style of the letter, I wanted something a little more elegant and nostalgic.

 Here is a picture of the alphabet from the pattern we were given. Just a matter of personal preference.

 

On Thursday night, we received our first project. It is a small sampler that is called Shared Stitches. All of the designers/teachers contributed something to this sampler. Teri of Shepherds Bush designed it, Charland of Charland Designs created the JOY charm, the fabric was by R&R Reproductions (Pat and Ann), the thread by Thread Gatherer (CeCe). There is a blackbird motif for Blackbird Designs, a gold needle and skein of floss for Jeannette Douglas designs, and of course, a sheep for Shepherds Bush. Also, there is a crown for R&R Reproductions (Crown & Thistle is their name for the designs they create.) 

 Here is a close up of the 'Dear to my heart', and also my big start on it. (not)

 

I also bought this thread caddy (floss holder?) It has a magnetic needle holder too. I put the floss for the "Dear to my heart" sampler in it. Fun, fun, fun. 

On Friday morning, it was the Shepherds Bush class. Tina designed a fabulous sampler. We learned the specialty stitches in right side of the sampler, which confused me. I always must start at the upper left hand corner. I plan on stitching the top border over to the upper left hand corner and working from there. LOL.

What I like about this sampler is that it will go with several of the other Shepherds Bush designs. And the colors are my favorite colors to boot. :)

And I did find a picture of the Blackbird Designs project. I didn't have an opportunity to purchase the kit, but on their blog, they say they are releasing class projects in Feb or March 2011. 

I also purchased Jeannette Douglas's kit. It is gorgeous and I can't wait to stitch it. 

I found a photo of the R&R Reproduction design. It is big, but it is stitch on 20 count linen, over 2 threads (so 10 count essentially.) We also received the fabric and magnetic button for the clasp. This is a UFO bag for all of our unfinished projects. Snicker. I might be able to get a few of my projects in there. 

The last class we took was by CeCe the owner of Thread Gatherer. Her flosses, ribbons, etc are fabulous. She put together a kit for us to do a fabric scrapbook. I think I am going to tat some stuff for it and maybe make it a memento of the weekend. (Big dreams, big dreams.)

Unfortunately, due to my lack of camera dexterity, I don't have any more pictures. I will figure out the camera and post more later.