Good Monday Morning!!

I can't believe is has been 2 weeks since my last post. Needless to say I have been busy and last weekend I was ill. I had PTA stuff, lots of PTA stuff and there is more that I need to do.

Stitching
As for stitching I am almost finished with my MIL's scissor pocket, I did finish my daughter's JABC ABC Apple Needlebook. She loves it and has put in a safe place to keep her brothers hands off it. Last night I finished stitching the wording on the Traveling Sisterhood Project. It is coming along nicely, I decided not to stitch it on blue fabric and I changed all the colors -- first time I have ever done that.

Basketweaving
I missed basket class due to my illness so I am a little behind on my basket projects. There are 5 classes scheduled in October so I should be able to catch up.

Scrapbooking
I joined an on-line scrapbooking class with Stacey. I got my first package a few weeks ago and I finally opened it this weekend. It is exactly the sort of scrapbooking class I need. She provides all the materials and on-line video instruction. I have completed the first layout and I have made additional pages using the same layout with some of my own material. The plan is to make exact pages for all my kids using different colors and start a memory book for them. I have been collecting scrapbooking supplies for years but never got the hang of making pages, now I am hooked.

Work
As many of you know I retired from the Air Force in 2005 to stay home with my little ones. Now that they are all in school I decided to work part-time, I mean very part-time so I signed up to be a sub at my kid's schools. This week I had my first substitute job, lucky for me there was a student teacher or I would have been totally lost. The plan is next time I have a job coming up is to visit the teacher the day before to get a clear to do list.



Well, I need to go DH is home for the day as well as the kids (teacher in-service day) and my SIL is coming to visit. I will try to get some pics added to this post later today.



See ya!!



CJ

Happy Monday Update!!

Can you believe that it is already the middle of September. Time is flying by. These last few weeks have been so busy, PTA, SHAC, kids, school, doctor visits and then a trip to see Granny. Whew!!!

SISTERHOOD
It is official I am now a member of "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pattern". The pattern, Waxing Moon Designs #119, arrived from Jennifer on 5 September. I have been too busy to do anything with it other than choose a fabric color, I am going to stitch her on 14ct light blue fiddlers. Now I just need to pick the floss colors, I will probably stick close to the pattern, but you never know. More to come on this subject.

FLOSS TAG/PIF
Not only did I complete my very this weekend, I also received the most fabulous floss tag with scissors from Staci. It was part of a PIF and I am sooooo lucky to get this from her. She is an extremely talented stitcher. I have decided that her floss tag will go on display, never to be used it is just to beautiful.

My Floss Tag

Floss Tag and Scissors from Staci

EXCHANGES
I received two fantastic exchanges on my Cross Stitch Friends group. From Nora, my BFF since teenage hood, a great Christmas package. She sent three skeins of WDW floss, one that I will definitely use on my little one's name flake. A great Mill Hill kit, my very first one, scissors, needles, thread heaven (thanks, I needed some more) and some mints that I will have to hide from my DS, he is addicted to mints. JoAnn, aka Kaghos, sent me a great Dog Days of Summer package. Plenty of treats to keep me energized as I stitch, lovely herbal teas, a Lavender and Lace pattern, a sweet little froggie to ward off the RIPIT demon, as well as blending filament and some seaside embellishments. I have truly been spoiled. Thank-you both.

Christmas in August from BFF Nora

Dogs Days of Summer from JoAnn

BASKET
Do you remember this basket from post on a few weeks ago, well it has a new look. I bought some flowers from Michael's and voila, it is now a nice Fall centerpiece for my table. I think I should be able to use that for years to come.

SO WHAT IS NEXT
I am still working on my PIFs, I intend to send them in November. I have a CSF Halloween Pinkeep, PS Fans Ornament to stitch and I must get cracking on the Sisterhood project.

I wish all of you a great week and I send you all a big THANK-YOU for stopping by. I really am grateful for all your comments.


See ya!!

CJ

I Am in Awe!!

On August 23rd I received a small packet from Connecticut that contained the most beautifully stitched and finished Santa I have ever seen. I was overwhelmed by the craftsmanship, so overwhelmed that I did not take it out of its protective covering until today. I am so lucky to receive this from Marie, I cannot begin to thank her enough for such a wonderful ornament. I will be so proud to hang it on my tree. It is from the PS Book 36, Saint Nicholas II.

See Ya!!

CJ

Cross Stitch Blog Thoughts....

Well, it is Saturday, I have been up since about 4:10am, can't sleep so I read blogs. It is amazing to me how many people you meet in the "blog-o-sphere", you can take a trip without ever leaving home. I am just in awe of the entries, photos and crafty accomplishments that I come across. All of you in "blog-land" inspire me to take better photos (long way to go there), expand my design taste, and break out of the "just got to put in a frame" box.

I have always loved cross stitching, although I must admit that finishing a project has always been a challenge for me. Typically, I frame things I stitch. Framing for me is easy, I used to work in a frame shop and I have everything I need here to do the job my self. Over 90% of the pictures in my home were matted and framed by me. That is how I did all my early pieces and I made them for gifts, rarely keeping anything for myself. Since joining stitching groups, which I first thought would be frivolous fun, boy was I mistaken, I have learned so much and vastly expanded my stitching horizons. I have made bookmarks, ornaments, cards and a needlebook with my stitching -- never did anything like that prior to 2005 when I joined a group. Now I am getting ready to finish a scissor fob, scissor pocket, floss tag (one of the coolest things I have seen), a flatfold and a block. Soon I will attempt a biscornu and a fabric basket. These groups have helped me get out of my stitching doldrums.

The people on these groups are serious about the craft and are generous when it comes to sharing their accomplishments and ideas. I love perusing the web in search of free designs and finishing techniques. I especially love looking at different interpretation of designs on the Freebie Gallery. I absolutely love reading blogs and finding new ones to add to my blogroll. All of you out there energize my love of cross stitch and I am truly thankful that you share your craft.

This morning I had the opportunity to visit Japan, Norway and Ohio, I had a lovely time. Have a great day. I need to get ready for my garage sale, yuk!!

See ya!!

CJ