Ta-da! This is Tobi's stocking, as of the twelfth. I've done even more since then! Now I've just got to keep it up. It's going to be close trying to get it done by this Christmas.
Now for some old SBQs. Is there anything you would like to see more of in the world of cross stitching? Is there anything you would like to see less of? This can be patterns, flosses, fabrics, etc etc. More dragons! I haven't seen many new dragons out lately. I think there are plenty of hand dyed fabrics and flosses out. It seems like so many people have started their own lines on hand dyed fabrics. Sometimes it seems like too many. I guess that mean you can always find just the right color though, I guess.
What are your favorite online stitching supply sources? If I buy something online, it's usually through Shakespeare's Peddler. They have or can order everything I ever want. I get a Picture This Plus automatic, so I usually can just have extras sent with that. They also have frequent buyer cards. Every $200 spent gets you $10 off. That's the only online shop I've used lately.
What for you means to achieve mastery as a stitcher? To me, it's an impossibility. There will always be something else you can learn.
What proportion of your stitching is for your own personal use versus gifts? I'd say 80% is for me. 15% is gifts that will stay in my house (for Jymi or boys). That leaves 5% for gifts for other people. I just don't have alot of people in my life who would appreciate it, so I don't bother much with gift stitching.
Do you railroad? Sometimes, but not usually. I always picked projects with lots of confetti when I started, so I couldn't really railroad.
If you were a cross stitch designer, what would your design style be? Fantasy stuff, probably. That's what I always loved. It'll never happen though. I can't even draw stick figures. Not to mention it's alot of work, and I'm just too lazy. I'm happy just following other people's charts.
When you have to frog out stitches, do you reuse that thread or do you start over with a new strand? I use to reuse it, but I don't anymore. Now I get too frustrated too quick, and cut thread as I'm frogging to keep it out of the way. I still use it if it's only a few stitches though.
That's all. I'll post another pic of Tobi's stocking after the holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!

Labels: SBQ, Tobi's Stocking

Pictures! First, the boys in their Ren Fest stuff. I think they're very cute but I may be biased!
Next, Halloween pics. Tobi is Harry Potter and Darin is Diego. Also in the picture, my niece (grim reaper), my nephew (a phantom), and one of their friends (Spiderman).
I though this one was cute. I was carrying Darin since he was tired, and the other boy asked his mom to carry him, too. So I let him carry Darin, and told him it would be about the same as his mom carrying him. The way he held him though, it looked like Spiderman saving a child. It may just be that I'm goofy, but it struck me as funny.
This is Tobi on his school field trip. They went to the local apple orchard. This picture is form the hayride. Tobi's class had three chaperones cancel at the last minute, but we still had seven parents there. The other kindergarten classes from his school only had four, at most. I got to be in charge of taking the kids to the potty. You want a challenge, try taking 21 kindergartners for four porta-potties on a field trip.
I've been doing alot of volunteer work at the school lately. I've been helping pass out fundraiser stuff, and next week I'm working at the book fair.
I love Tobi's school. Public schools weren't as nice when I was little. Everything is so clean and beautiful. All the teachers are so nice. The kids have painted the ceiling tiles in art. There are amazing murals on the walls. There is even a garden where teachers can have outdoor classes. The garden is unreal. It looks like the kind of chaotic yet organized place where you might find a fairy. They also teach all the children French. Even the kindergartners know the pledge of allegiance in French. Why you would ever need to know the pledge of allegiance to the American flag in French, I haven't figured out, but it's kinda neat to watch these little kids say it. They don't even realize what they're saying when it's in English!
he school has the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program. To graduate with and IB diploma, you had to do so much community service, and they're teaching them that at Tobi's school. The kindergarten classes collected over thirty pounds of goodies to send to Jymi and his friends. The fifth graders have been selling T-shirts to help save the rain forests. Every ten shirts they sell saves an acre of rain forest in the school's name. I bought one for each of us, since that has always been a cause close to my heart, and mentioned it to my dad a couple days later. He asked me to get him one, too. So our family has saved half an acre rain forest. The third graders were also raising money, for charity, by selling donuts. I don't eat donuts though, so I didn't help out with that one.
I have been working on Tobi's stocking. I even have a picture, but Blogger won't let me put it up right now. I'll try again tomorrow. I may still get it done by Christmas. I've been taking it with me to stitch on while I wait for Tobi to get out of school. It is getting there. Pictures tomorrow!

Labels: Holidays, Kids, Real Life, Tobi's Stocking

Life is still hectic, but getting a little better. I have been stitching more than before, but still not much. I am going to try to put up a picture of my pitiful progress on Tobi's stocking. I guess pitiful progress is still progress though.
My October goal was to work on Tobi's stocking for an hour everyday. Not even close. I did maybe an hour a week.
My November goal is to finish all the cross stitch on Tobi's stocking. I have to. I have to get this done by Christmas. It is getting there, slowly, but surely.
Speaking of Christmas, for the first time ever, I've gotten my shopping done early! I have gotten almost all of the boys' presents. I still want to get Darin a droppable toddler's digital camera. Maybe then, he'll stop stealing mine. I also want to get them Ratatouille and the DVD of Pixar shorts. They both come out Tuesday.
The boys had a good Halloween. Tobi was a very cute Harry Potter, and Darin was Diego. Pictures will come when I have more energy. We went trick-or-treating with my sister and her family. I ended up carrying Darin about half the way. My arms and back are still very sore. They got more candy than I know what to do with. So not what I need to lose weight.
I have lost a total of three pounds in a month. Not bad, but not great. I am going to the YMCA at least five times a week. I am doing aerobics on the weekend. I have done at least twenty minutes of cardio every day since the fourteenth. Even when I don't lose weight, my measurements get smaller.
My wedding ring doesn't fit anymore. It's really starting to slip off easily now. I may start wearing it on a chain instead. I'm not sure about getting it sized. We bought it off eBay. I've never had a ring sized, but I'm just not sure it's worth it. I don't know how much it costs, and I'm afraid it will cost more to size the ring than we paid for it. It's a mystic topaz set in sterling silver. It's not worth much, but it's all we could afford. It's very pretty and special to me.
Tomorrow is Tobi's first school field trip. I get to chaperone! The teacher said they'd had lots of volunteers, but most of them had not had their background checks done. I passed mine, and I'm very excited. They're going to an apple orchard, and I remember going there in first grade. Tobi's very excited, too.
Darin is spending tonight at my mom's, and tomorrow while we're gone. Every eight weeks or so, dealing with my difficult son, worrying about my husband, and PMS all catch up with me. I think Darin is the biggest factor in this. It's not really his fault though. It's just that we're together, all day, every day, and we both grate on each other's nerves. He's a stubborn child, at a difficult age, going through a stressful, confusing (to a four-year-old) situation. The doctor said it was normal. I just need a break sometimes. Of course, that makes me feel like a bad mom, along with several other things I just can't seem to teach Darin. Today I cried in the locker room after a child care worker had to come get me because Darin had an accident. It wouldn't be so bad if it really was an accident, but he does it because he's mad at me. Oh well. At least I know they gave me the right baby. He's just like I was at that age.
Anyway. I think that's all for now. I gotta get some sleep if I'm gonna help look after a buttload of kindergartners tomorrow. Have a nice weekend.

Labels: Goals, Holidays, Kids, Real Life, Tobi's Stocking, Weight Loss

I didn't really have any goals for September. I worked on Angel Of Capricorn, Dragonfly QS, and Ruby QS. I also started and finished the newest Mother's Wisdom, Listen To Your Teacher.
My goal for October is to put in at least on hour everyday on Tobi's stocking. I hope to finish it November. Then he can finally have it for Christmas. It's driving me nuts.
Tobi lost another tooth! He let me pull it, which I thought was a big deal. I always hated having somebody pull my teeth! He showed me how much it was wiggling, and you could see the root of the tooth poking through his gums! So I gave it a little tug, and it came right out. Tobi was so excited about the tooth fairy coming back, he didn't realize how much he was bleeding! I had to give him a wet washcloth to hold on it. I am so proud of him. He didn't cry or whine or anything. He "took it like a man." He forgot to put it under his pillow, but the tooth fairy left him some money anyway. He asked me this morning if I would go to Target and buy him a set of Star Wars guys with his money while he was in school. Unfortunately, they only had a few sets, and they were all ones he already had.
I joined the YMCA and Spark People. I've decided that when Jymi comes home I will be skinny. I joined Monday morning, and have been four times. When I drop Darin off at the child care room, he gets so upset. Monday, I couldn't leave him, and today they told me they'd get me if he wouldn't stop. So I did about fifteen minutes on the treadmill, and went back to check on him. There's always someone at the door, and she saw me coming down the hall and said he was fine. Worrying about Darin helped keep my heart rate up, though. So I went back and worked out some more.
Monday afternoon, after Darin's tantrum in the morning, we went back after school with Tobi. He was fine while Tobi was there, too. They didn't play together, but Darin just felt more secure with Tobi there. He was still not happy to be there this morning. After I picked up Tobi, he asked if we were going back. I didn't see why not, so we went back again in the afternoon. According to Spark People, in two days, I've burned over six hundred calories. I don't plan to go twice a day everyday, but for now, while Darin is still getting used to the child care.
The boys have also joined a self defense/Karate class at the YMCA. The first class is in a couple days, and the boys are excited. Every time we pass the stairs, they ask if we're going up there. I think they'll enjoy it. After the two work outs though, I'm exhausted. Good night, all!

Labels: Finishes, Goals, Kids, Mother's Wisdom, New Starts, Real Life, Tobi's Stocking, Weight Loss

I did finish all the wallpaper on the first page, but by the time I finished, was ready to move on. So for the whole SAL, I only got in about five hundred stitches.
I'm not sure what to work on next. Starting in October, I'm going to work on Tobi's stocking exclusively, so I may go ahead and start working on it.
Believe it or not, I haven't bought anything in a week. I haven't started anything in two weeks! I must be sick or something. Of course, I'm considering another new star when I finish Tobi's stocking. Darin loves penguins, so I bought The Magic Place a while back. Since I've got a Schimmel started for Tobi, and I'll be starting one for my dad, I might as well start Darin's too. Plus I've got Merlin And Arthur started for Jymi. That way I'll have something for everyone. It won't be much longer before I never have to start another project again! of course, I will anyway, but that's beside the point.

Labels: HAED, Ruby QS, Tobi's Stocking

Okay, not really. I have finished the wagon on Tobi's stocking. It only takes me a couple days to get sick of this one. If it's not done by October, I'll put everything else away and finish it. There's not really that much, but it just drives me nuts!
I'm going to work on Jymi's stocking next. I'm gonna try to finish the picture of the castle before moving on, but no promises.
I bought some more charts. There's a big shock, huh? HAED had a Fourth Of July sale, and I decided I'd only buy two charts this time. That lasted until the next morning when I decided on two more. I also bought a story keep last night, too. I'm done now, though, until the next sale. I bought Angel Of Capricorn, Isis, The Awakening, Forest Light, and Oriental Courage.
I'll start Courage when I get sick of Jymi's stocking. I'm just going to stitch the black on a piece of Picture This Plus Crystal Phoenix I already have. I think it's the perfect shade of red, and then I may actually finish a HAED in this lifetime! I considered doing Strength for Jymi, since he likes dragons with wings more than Asian dragons, but I don't think he'd use it. He doesn't read much anymore. Even when he was home, he hasn't really read a book in awhile. He never had the time, and when he did, he didn't want to have to use his brain. Maybe I'll do it for my niece, Alex. I know she'd love it, and she reads constantly.
I added two tickers to the top of my blog. I'm so excited about Jymi coming home, and he is, too. Last night he said he'd been down all day, just wishing he was here. Jymi is not flying home now. His friend Paul, who lives about ten minutes away from us is renting a car, and they're going to ride together. That way they can leave as soon as they're set free. They'll get here sooner, and be able to stay longer. Jymi's decided while he's here, he wants to have a party for Darin's birthday, see Harry Potter, and get a new tattoo if we have the money. Since he's not flying and I don't have to buy a plane ticket, we just may. He just wants something small. I want Selina Fenech's Motherhood. I want to make her tail blue, and her hair brown, though. We'll see. Other than Darin's party and the movie, we're just gonna play it by ear.
Tobi and I are still going to see Harry Potter a week after it comes out though. I have the perfect attention span to watch movies again and again. Again, I'm figuring if I wait until it's been out a week, and take Tobi to the first show on Wednesday morning, there won't be as many people. Jymi understands.

Labels: HAED, Jymi, Jymi's Stocking, Kids, Movies, New Starts, Stash, tattoos, Tobi's Stocking

I've been working on Christmas stockings. Here's Jymi's after the SAL. I don't think I'm going to SAL anymore. It takes me at least three days to really get into a project, so I never get much done on SAL days, and it screws with my mojo for whatever else I was working on. I'm now doing a screaming rotation, I guess.
I also worked on Tobi's stocking. It's my closest to being finished, but I can't stand to work on it too often. I'm using the book, where all the charts in the series were reprinted. There are so many mistakes in the chart, it's incredibly irritating to try to work on. I managed to get a section done, though. After a week or so on Invariance, I'll want to go back to it. A week on 28 ct. over one, and over two on 25 ct. is a nice break. If I'm not done by August, I'll work on it exclusively until it'd finished. I will have it done by this Christmas. Until now, he's always used mine, but now he can spell his name, and he knows it's not "Faye."
Here's this week's SBQ. How many needles do you use during a project? Have you ever loaded up a needle for every color? Do you use a new needle for every project or recycle your favorite needle? I start off with one needle. If it breaks, tarnishes, or gets lost, I get out a new one. When I finish a project, I keep using that same needle. I have needle loaded, on my first figure on my nativity scene, way back when. To me, it was a major pain. I had given up on that idea before the figure was finished.
The school called me to let me know the zoning had changed and to tell me where the boys would go to school now. I didn't know where it was, so I looked it up on the district's website. The zoning is insane. If you go to the next intersection either way on our street, the other kids will go to the same school the boys were supposed to. It's just our fifty foot section of street. There are two schools within a ten minute walk, and seven more within a fifteen minute drive. The boys' new school is all the way on the other side of town, twenty to thirty minutes away, depending on traffic, since I'll now have to get on the interstate to take them. They will go to the closest middle school, but by that time, the zoning will have changed again, and hopefully, we'll have moved anyway.

Labels: Jymi's Stocking, Kids, Tobi's Stocking

As promised, here is the progress I've made on Tobi's stocking. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's only a pinprick, but it's there. I should get back to it in a couple days.
I'm still working on my model. I've almost finished the section I ripped out. I've got a half an hour's work left on that, but I found another small section that's off by one stitch. I think I must've been drunk the first time I stitched this part. That'll take me an hour to rip out, and a little over an hour to put back in.
I thought I'd catch up on some SBQs, since I haven't in awhile. First one. How do you decide which stitching blogs are worth repeat and/or regular viewings? Are there certain things you look for in particular? Are there things you wish there were more of? Less of? Is your blog a good example of what you like to read?
This is kinda like how I pick friends, or how I used to pick boyfriends. I don't know why I like someone or their blogs. I just look through, and if it strikes me, I add it to my Google Reader. Before I started using Google Reader, I would delete blogs from my favorites if they went a month without posting. Clear as mud? I guess mine is what I like to read. Stitching and people's real life. When I started my blog, I never expected anyone to read it. I love that there are a few people crazy enough to read the insanity that comes out of my head, but I blog to keep track of my progress, and to get out everything that rattling around in my head.
How many WIPs do you have? How many UFOs do you have? When does a WIP become a UFO?
Counting the model, I have five WIPs. I don't have any I consider to be UFOs, although I probably should. To me WIPS become UFOs when I give up on them, and as my husband will happily point out, I'm a stubborn b****. It takes alot to make me give up on just about anything. The first cross stitch project I ever finished spanned about three years of on again off again stitching. It was a nativity scene, with seven stand up figures. In 2000, I stitched the first two. In 2001, I stitched one when my mom and I went to the CATS show in Atlanta. That fall I moved to Virginia to live with my dad, and left stitching here. When I came to visit in 2002, I did another figure, but again I left the stitching. When I moved back here in 2003, I was pregnant, living in an upstairs apartment, with me my 35 pound one and a half-year-old. I could go many places, since I had a hard time carrying Tobi up and down all those stairs, so I picked up my nativity scene from my mom, and stitched the last three while waiting for Darin. I never gave up it. I always planned to finish it.
Are you on “The Wagon?” If so, how long have you been on and how “serious” are you about it? If not, have you considered it? I'm not technically on "The Wagon", but I'm on the Fifty Project Challenge. I've been on it since March, but I'm not good at it though. I've got some stash plans for next week, after I get my birthday money.
I decided to treat myself to some HAEDs for my birthday/stress reduction/Mother's Day. I picked out six that I can't live without. Since shipping goes up for six to tn charts, I decided to get a couple more, if I was going to pay that much. So I picked out eight, which brought my total to $90. Well, at a hundred, shipping is free, so what's one more chart. So I've picked out nine charts to buy next week, after I get birthday money, but before the Mother's Day sale is over. My birthday's next Thursday, three days before Mother's Day.
In case you're interested, I'm planning to get five Bowsers, twos Feneches, one Camprubi, and one Shimmel. The Feneches are Dragon Soul and Impossible Love. I loved the Dragon Soul freebie Michelle did. Of course, it's not a freebie anymore, and if I'm gonna pay for it, I'm gonna buy the full size one. As for Impossible Love, I just love the colors, the idea, and the expressiveness of their faces. It's just beautiful.
The Bowsers I'm planning on are: Invariance, Tending The Dragon Sleep, Desire, Goddess Of Tides, and Cathedral. Cathedral was a tough decision. That was my last one added to get free shipping, and I had a hard time picking between Cathedral, Beckon, and Lotus Wood. I also like Forest Light, but it was also the first one I threw out of the running. That's enough rambling for now, and plenty of links. Have a nice weekend.

Labels: Models, Project Challenge, SBQ, Stash, Tobi's Stocking

Don't you just love when everything in life blows up at you? Two weeks ago, Jymi had five teeth pulled, (four wisdom teeth, and one other). For a week, I had an extra child. It took me three days of sleeping in for me to become halfway human again. The next weekend, the computer died. Yay. It took Jymi a week and quite a few obscenities to get that fixed. Friday night, I got a ticket, because apparently my tags have expired. My notice must've gotten lost in the mail, because we had no idea. So now I have to go to court in June. Yesterday I had to take Jymi to another dentist, for cavities. They worked on one, and decided it was going to have to be pulled, and they didn't have time to work on the other two. If all that was enough, on the way to the babysitter's, we had a tire blow out. The spare was flat, and the other rear tire won't last much longer. So I had to get up early this morning, go pay the taxes, and then go to the DMV, so Jymi could drive my car to work. We can't afford new tires for his car until payday. Then there's my kids, who are always trying to kill each other, and the entire three days I spent cleaning the house. I'm ready to start pulling my hair out.
The good news is, I got my birthday present early. I had been considering getting a kitten when Jymi left, to ease the loneliness. Tobi's been watching alot of Animal Planet lately, which always has heart breaking animal shelter PSAs. He's been coming out crying "for the pets". I tried explaining that, despite how much I would love to be able to give all the poor animals a loving home, we just can't. Tobi replied, "Well can we just have one kitty?" When I told Jymi, he suggested we go ahead and get one. So that Friday, we went down to animal control. We had seen one called Miss Priss online, that Jymi liked, but when we got there, she came right up to the glass. She loved on the boys through the window. We looked at all the other cats, but our mind was kinda made up already. We brought her home and changed her name to Hannah. She's about three years old, and has been a stray all her life. We considered naming her Anna, since she was so anorexic looking (under all that fur; her vet says she doesn't even weigh a whole pound), but it seemed a little bleak. Tobi misheard and said, "Like Hannah Montana?", and we decided Hannah was good. She's very sweet and affectionate. She's smart, too. The first person she really made up to Jymi, who loves her now.
I've been stitching on my model, but still no pictures. I also worked on Tobi's stocking some too, but Blogger's gone funny, so no pictures of it today. I think I can finish it by July, at the rate I'm going. I've also decided that when Jymi leaves, I'm going to start Merlin And Arthur. I'm also considering starting Invariance, either at the same time, or after I finish two of the other big things I've got started. the thing is, I don't have the chart yet, and I'm supposed to be on the Fifty Project Challenge. After all the chaos and headbanging of the last couple weeks, I need to give in to one addiction, and stash buying is healthier than smoking. I'll probably just use my birthday money. What I really want is to see the companion, Blue Invariance charted. Maybe one day.
My April goals were: finish my model, try to do the SALs, and work on Tobi's stocking. The model's not done yet, but it's close. I had to frog and restitch part of it, and in doing so, I found that part of it was half a stitch off. So I spent all my stitching time yesterday frogging. I'll start restitching today. It shouldn't take too long. My May goals are: finish the model, SAL, and work on Tobi's stocking. Sound familiar?

Labels: Computers, Goals, Jymi, Models, New Starts, Pets, Project Challenge, Real Life Sucks, Stash, Tobi's Stocking

I did finish stitching the drawers on Tuesday. It took me all day, as bad as I was feeling, though. That night, I went to bed at eight, and told Jymi I wasn't getting out of bed until I felt better. I got up at 10:30 Wednesday morning, and I did feel much better. I got out of bed just in time for my sister to call, with the exact same symptoms.
I started my Dragon Dreams exchange piece that day. Sorry, no pictures, yet. I don't like the fabric, so it took awhile to get into it. Especially since half my stitching time the first day was spent frogging. It's going better now, though. Another day or two, and it'll be finished.
My mom's going to help me finish it, but she had her gall bladder out last week, so I'm not gonna ask her about it for awhile. I've got plenty of time. She's doing well, just very tired.
We had a little extra money this weekend, so I was finally able to finish paying off my last frame. Sorry about the photo; it was the best I could get. You can see Darin's fingerprints, where he wanted to help me hang it up. I wanted it framed in the same fashion as my other fences, but it was kinda hard. With Spooky and Nautical, I knew what would look good, and when I picked the mats, they "popped". Nothing really popped with this one, but these came close. I can take home Nautical Fence anytime I feel like going down there and asking for it.
Here's this week's SBQ. If you had $500 to spend on stitching-related items, what would you buy? As many quarter yards of Picture This Plus Cashel linens as possible. That was easy. That's it for now.

Labels: Fabric Ramblings, Family, Framing, Gift Stitching, New Starts, SBQ, Tobi's Stocking

Jymi and I went out with his friend, Jason, and his fiancee, to dinner and a movie. We went to see The Number 23. I thought it was pretty good. Jymi didn't think he'd like, because it's a serious movie starring Jim Carrey. He was wonderful though. He was still funny in the beginning, but in the beginning, he's just a normal, goofy, everyday guy. I've seen too many comedians in dramatic movies that try so hard to be serious, that there are no jokes at all. Most of the time, those movies aren't any good. It is easy to find the number in real life. The year I was born (1985) adds up. My address is three numbers, and they add up to twenty. We went to be that night at 12:19. Jymi was 23 when Darin was born. We started dating on June 9. 6/9. 69/3=23. This weekend, I participated in 2/3 SALs. No, I haven't lost my mind. It's just fun, and it bugs Jymi.
Saturday, I really meant to work on The Castle. I had to finish a thread on Tobi's stocking, though, and that was it. Once I picked it up, I couldn't switch. I'm going to finish the drawers today, and then I'm going to start my Dragon Dreams exchange piece. It should only take a few days, but I'm expecting a new model soon. The exchange mail date isn't until May, so I've got plenty of time. I want to get it done soon, though, so I have plenty of time for the finishing. My mom's going to help me, but she's also having her gall bladder taken out. I don't want to bother her right after she has surgery.
Sunday I worked on Jymi's stocking. It doesn't look like much, but I finished the star on the right, and did all of his name, over one. Next time, I can actually start the picture! I haven't decided where to start next, but probably the tree.
Sunday night, I started to feel bad. I took something to make me feel better, but it made me very sleepy. Jymi, who's been doing lead all weekend, got up at nine for work, and didn't wake me until he left at ten. I was still pretty dopey though, and I went back to sleep at eleven and didn't get up until two. I had to get groceries, because there was noting in the house to eat. I felt better after I ate, when we got back. After that, I did finally work on The Castle. Still stitching rocks. I always feel like I've made progress, but it never looks like much. I'm still feeling sick and sleepy. Jymi left this morning at nine, and I didn't hear him at all. Not only did he leave without my noticing, but another guy came over, in, and left again (Jymi was giving him a ride to the plant)! I'm awake now though. Not moving fast, but I'm alive. I hope veryone else is feeling better today!

Labels: Jymi, Jymi's Stocking, Models, Movies, Real Life Sucks, The Castle, Tobi's Stocking

Almost two years after I first started those shelves, I have finished! At least the cross stitch! It's not much, but I've barely worked on it since I started, so any achievement seems huge! I keep getting distarcted. Now on to the drawers!
Here's this week's SBQ. Do you use your needle, a seam ripper, or something else when you have to frog stitches? Why do you use the method that you do? I usually just use my needle. Working at the shop, I saw too many people buying whole new pieces of fabric because they'd cut holes in their fabric with scissors or seam rippers. I'll use my scissors if there's ALOT to cut out, but I go very slowly.
I also sewed a button on Jymi's pants last night. It's not really that big a deal, but he was so funny. He got so excited when I told him I could fix his pants. The biggest reason I fixed them was so I wouldn't have to do laundry.
Tobi has been doing lots of chores lately. He found out there were Star Wars Galactic Heroes he didn't have yet, so he asked if he could have more guys for his "Star Wars Collection". I told him we didn't have the money right now, so he picked up all the change he could find, and brought it to me. He said, "Mommy, I've got money now." He was actually only a dollar short. So now he's been helping me clean the kitchen and the living room, picking up the trash, ect., and I've been paying him. I'm sure by now he has enough money, but I'm not taking six dollars in change to Target, so when I have money in the account, I'll take him and let him pick out a new set. By then though, he may have enough money for two. I'm proud of him, learning to earn money. Anyway. I think I'm done rambling now! Have a nice weekend!

Labels: Jymi, Kids, SBQ, Tobi's Stocking

Today, after Jymi gets home, I am going to register Tobi for school. It's a bittersweet thing. I know I'll have so much more time in my day when I don't have to stop the boys from beating each other, but I'm having a hard time with the idea of trusting a stranger with my baby for six and a half hours a day. I don't trust my husband alone with them that long! Nobody knows him like I do. I'll get over it, though. The way things are going right now, Jymi may still be here to hold my hand on Tobi's first day. That will help. Tobi goes back and forth about whether or not he wants to go. He's a little nervous about not being with me all day, too.
I'm still working on Tobi's stocking. Half the colors are in my bag with The Castle stuff, so I'll get them out tomorrow. Maybe I will get it finished this year.
Here's this week's SBQ. Do you find yourself stitching faster when you are getting to the end of a design? I wouldn't say faster. I'm more motivated, and so I stitch more, but it's at the same speed. My stitching speed depends on what I'm watching on tv and/or what my children/husband/animals are doing. Watching 24 in the afternoon, when the boys are running around, and Jymi's asking me question, it can take me an hour to put in ten stitches. At night, after they've all gone to bed though, if I put on a movie or something I've seen a hundred times, I can get quite a bit done. It's usually mixed though. Most of the time, I watch old sitcoms on Liftime during the day with the boys running around, and after they go to bed I watch Lost or 24 or something I actually have to pay attention to. So it works out evenly, I guess.

Labels: Kids, SBQ, Tobi's Stocking

I finally got my Halloween Hob Nobbs back from the framers. Money's very tight at the moment, so I haven't been paying on my frames. You can see it in the picture, but you can see the wood grain in the frame. That little bit of variation goes so well with overdyed border.
I've been working on Tobi's stocking. I'm going to try to finish the shelves this week. It's starting to feel like Darin's did. It took forever to get through the piano, and it was as boring as could be, but once I got through it, everything else went so much faster. Once I finsh the shelves and drawers, there's not that much to it. So I'm gonna stick with this for awhile, and resist starting something new. Yes, I hear you all booing.
I got my payment for Snowfight: Violet yesterday. I got a copy of each new Cross Eyed Kat designs from Nashville (Triangularity, Easter Ellipse, Mayan Mystery, Snowfight: Violet, and X Marks The Spot, a freebie). I also got the Waterlilies for Mayan Mystery, one of the Dinky Dyes for White Nights In St. Petersburg, Trail Creek Farm's Winter, and fabric to finsh my own Snowfight: Violet.
I have just noticed I never set my goals for Feburary. Well, I finished A Wee Bit Irish and In Every Nest. I started and finished Irish Coffee. I worked on part four of Persian Iris Garden, but got fed up with it. I partcipated in some of the Black Swan and Teresa Wentzler SALs, but I was always busy, or sick, or something on Saturdays for The Castle.
My goals for March are: participate in The Castle, Black Swan, and Teresa Wentzler SALs, continue with Tobi's stocking (finsh at least the shelves, maybe the drawers), and maybe start something small (must resist Merlin And Arthur).

Labels: Framing, Goals, Models, Stash, Tobi's Stocking

In my last post, I mentioned I was going to rent a car to go to Virginia. Guess what I learned. You can't rent a car without a major credit card, and if you manage to, you still have to be twenty-five to drive it. I was so ready too scream! I understand why they have to do it that way, but it's still irritating.
So we had to wait until Jymi got off work Thursday night, and we borrowed my mom's car. We left Friday morning, and got to Virginia around lunch time. We couldn't afford to go the Marine Science Center, like I planned, but my dad bought the four of us tickets to the circus (he had to work, so he couldn't go with us).
It really was the greatest show on earth, but not because of the clowns or elephants. The best part was watching the boys. We had great seats (they're normally the floor seats; it's a basketball arena) We were in the second row, and close enough to smell the elephants. We were also close enough Tobi got to shake hands with the star clown, which made his day. Darin had fallen asleep by then. They both loved it, but it started at Darin's normal bedtime. He fought it as long as he could, but he fell asleep during the second half. Everything was wonderful.
There were only two problems; everything was so expensive and PETA. My dad gave us some money to get the boys souvenirs, and they each got a light up thing, and they were $39! I told myself the money was going towards the elephant sanctuary. Now I have no problem with PETA's ideals. I am all for ethical/kind treatment of animals. Handing out information on the treatment of the animals in front of the circus is fine with me; I will read it over. When they start handing out comic books that show elephants being hunted and tortured to my very small kids though, that's a different thing. When they are scaring the hell out of my children, that is no longer a peaceful protest. I'm glad I flipped through it before I let them have it.
We got our car, and left Saturday morning. It was a long trip back, especially since we had to stop by my mom's and my sister's before we could go home. Our new car is a 86 Honda, and it's butt ugly. It's was in our price range though, and now I have a car during the day. Which is great, because I don't have anything to feed the boys for lunch, but I can go get groceries.
I've made some progress on Persian Iris Garden. This is going to be last picture of this one for awhile. I'm getting sick of it. I can make good progress when I can make myself work on it, but I never want to. So I think for the moment, I'll focus on Tobi's stocking during the week.
I keep wanting to start something small as a break from all my bigger projects, but the first thing that comes to my mind in Merlin And Aurthur. How's that for a small project? I have kinda decided to start something small once a month, just to break the monotony. I've also halfway decided that this project will be one of the Stitch Every Holiday series, but I can't pick which one. I could either start with the beginning of the series, the beginning of the year, or do whatever month it is. I guess I'll see which one I have the most threads for already.
Yesterday was the Black Swan SAL, and here is Jymi's stocking. I didn't get much done, but I didn't pick it up until nine. We spent Sunday cleaning, unpacking, and relaxing.
Today, after I get some groceries, I'll work on The Castle. I've got plenty more rocks to stitch.
Before I go, here's last week's SBQ. What is the smallest count fabric you have ever used? Did you stitch over one? Conversely, what is the largest count fabric you have ever used? The smallest I've used is 36 ct., and I have one that has to go on 40 ct. to fit in the frame I want for it, but I prefer 28 or 32 ct. I have stitched over one on 25 and 28 ct. I also stitched on 32 ct., and that time I was supposed to. The first two times, I didn't know I was supposed to stitch over two. The largest I've used is probably 14 ct. aida, unless you count over two on 25 ct., which works out to be 12.5 ct. Isn't math fun?

Labels: Family, Jymi, Jymi's Stocking, Kids, New Starts, Persian Iris Garden, Real Life Sucks, SBQ, The Castle, Tobi's Stocking

I can't decided on my next project. I don't like the number of projects I have started. There's one more I'd like to start right away, but other than that, I want to keep working on the ones already started. Please help me choose. They all have pros and cons. Here they are, from oldest to newest.
First is Tobi's Toy's And Games Stocking. The reasons I should work on this: it's almost two years old, which is longer than I've let a project go, it's one of my family's traditions, and I don't want Tobi to be jealous that Darin has a stocking and he doesn't. The reasons I don't want to work on it: it never seems to end, there's no way I'll have it done by this Christmas, and I'll have to sew it together, and I currently hate sewing machines.
Next is Avatar: The Wizard Of The Wind. The reasons I should work on this: it's a year and a half old, I've only worked on it maybe three days all year, and Jymi likes it. The reasons I don't want to work on it: it never seems to end, I never feel like I'm making any progress, and it seems like there's always so much left to do.
The there's Jymi's Dragons By The Fire Stocking. The reasons I should work on this: it's only barely started, I don't want Jymi to be the only one in our family without a stocking, it's a year old. The reasons I don't want to work on it: it's only barely started, there's no way it'll be done for this Christmas, and if/when Jymi leaves, it's going to kill me every time I pick it up to work on it.
There's also In Every Nest. The reasons I should work on this: it's only barely started, I could have it finished this year, it's a small, relatively quick finish, to boost my confidence. The reasons I don't want to work on it: it's entirely converted, which I hate doing and keeping track of, it done with overdyes, which I'm not always in the mood yo work with, and I don't know what I'm going to do with it when it is finished.
Last, but definitely not least, is Persian Iris Garden. The reasons I should work on this: it's huge, it's gorgeous, I'm not allowing myself another chatelaine until I finish this one, and I LOVE the new White Lights. The reasons I don't want to work on it: it's on 32 ct. black, so I can't see well enough to work on it in the evenings, I haven't had the extra money to get the bead packs yet, and it's almost all silks, so I have to wash my hands even more often than usual.
Help me out, please! Thanks!

Labels: Avatar, In Every Nest, Jymi's Stocking, Persian Iris Garden, Tobi's Stocking

Thursday sucked. First, I had PMS and not much sleep. Then add a kitchen full of flies that will not die. They're like the hydra. Every time I kill one, three more appear! I am still fighting with them. Then I went to the shop, after Jymi got home, to pick up Tobi's frame. There are two people there; the woman who was rehired when I left because she was the new owner's friend, and the new owner's daughter, who doesn't stitch. She's only working there for extra money, because they're about to lose their house. She always looks mad to be there. They tell me that they've decided not to hang my Hob Nobbs in the shop. Okay, well that kinda sucks, but really pissed me off was that they have had this for a month. They couldn't be bothered to call me. I know they're busy, but it wouldn't have taken two minutes to cal and say, "We changed our mind; we're not going to hang you're Halloween thing. Do you still want us to frame it now, or do you want it back?" I told them to go ahead, so I could still get in with the framing special. If they had called me though, I could've gotten it by Halloween instead of November.
When I came home I was very upset. I was good at my job, and I needed it, and the new owner gave it to two people who don't want to be there and who refuse to learn how to use the framing computer. It took two people fifteen minutes to do something I could do myself in one. I can home and locked myself in the bathroom and cried for a few minutes.
Then I went to cook dinner. After dinner was in the oven and cooking, I came into the living room. I asked Jymi, who had only been fueling the fire by ignoring how upset I was, if he was done with the computer, since he'd logged off, but not shut it down. He asked if I was getting on, and I told him no. I planned to eat and stitch, and I probably wouldn't be on the computer again until morning. He asked me to log on, with this evil look. Oh good. Jymi's downloaded another stupid computer thing I'll have to delete while he's at work. When I log on, a window pops up that says, "I Love you!!" I asked Jymi if he did this or if the computer was sick again. He told me he'd done it, and I started to cry again. It was very sweet, and exactly what I needed. I clicked OK, and thought that would be the end of it. There were seven more, though.
"I really do you know!"
"Even when you think I don't sometimes..."
"probably most of the time..."
"I really do love you!"
"I don't think you really know how much I do."
"Have a good day and don't break my computer!!"
"P.S. Be naked when I get home!!"
He's the sweetest pervert I've ever met, and I've met alot. It's the silly little things that mean the most, and this meant alot. I logged off at least three times Friday, just to read it again.
Tobi's Garfield looks good. Sorry about the flash spot. The pictures I take without the flash always come out blurry. Tobi picked out the frame, and he did a great job.
Jymi has drill all weekend. He left Friday morning, and he won't get home until tomorrow evening. I spent most of the day wasting time on the computer. I started playing The Sims 2 again. I'm currently working on killing off my third generation of aliens, getting the fourth to adults and having children. After the boys went to bed, I stitched a little and watched "Sweeney Todd" until I couldn't stay awake anymore. I finished it this morning, and the boys and I spent the evening watching the movies we'd recorded off of Disney channel this week. It was witch week or something like that. I wanted to see Twitches, and Tobi wanted to see the Halloweentown movies. We watched Twitches (very good) and the first Halloweentown (was good the first twenty times I watched it).
I did finish the background of the shelves on Tobi's stocking, while watching all these movies. Now to fill in all the toys. For the first time with this thing, I feel like I've made some progress.
Tobi and Darin fell asleep during Halloweentown. People always ask me if they're twins, and sometimes it seems like they are. They fell asleep within minutes of each other, in the same position. Every time one rolled over, the other did, too, a few minutes later. I carried Tobi into his bed, and laid him down. He immediately rolled onto his other side. I put Darin in his bed, the same way I did Tobi, and he rolled over, just like Tobi. It never fails to amaze me how much they are the same, and still complete opposites.
When I got on the computer, after putting them to bed, I got a VERY nice surprise in my email. I entered my Hob Nobbs and my Spooky Fence the October contest at the Picture This Plus Yahoo Group. The email said that they just couldn't decide on a winner, so everyone who entered gets an 1/8 yard of their choice of fabrics! I asked for a piece of 32 ct. Crystal Mystic Belfast linen for Raise The Roof's Happy Camper. I wish Just Another Button Company made the face buttons with red hair. All I can find are the yellow hair and the black hair. I was so excited to find I'd won! Sort of. It's not much competition when everybody wins, but I still get a prize! My weekend has much improved from the nasty start Thursday evening. Tomorrow, I'm going to make lasagna for dinner, so I won't have much time to stitch, but it'll be well worth it. Wow. It's after one! Not even close to being tired, but I'll probably try to go to bed soon.

Labels: Fabric Ramblings, Framing, Jymi, Kids, Tobi's Stocking

of my Project Challenge! Sewing counts, so these are my last two! I went to my sister's yesterday to borrow our mom's sewing machine (it's not as weird as it sounds, I promise), and spent the morning sewing together the trick-or-treat bags! Nothing difficult, but I had to make some adjustments. It called for 1/2 inch ribbon, and I bought 5/8 inch. It also said to fold the edge down, and then sew the top down, but to make the adjustment I decided not to fold the top down. It's just more work, and while the inside seam would've looked nicer, Tobi and Darin won't notice, and it's just for one night a year.
Tobi's getting excited about going trick-or-treating, with his new costume and bag. His costume came yesterday, with an extra set of glasses. We opened it to try it on, and Jymi had to take Tobi's picture. His glasses are a little bug, but we can put some masking tape on them to keep them from slipping down, and make them even more like Harry Potter's.
I'm still working on Tobi's stocking, and it finally feels like I'm making progress. I had to buy another couple of skeins, neither of which was the color it says I'll need two of. It's all good though. I hoping to finish all the background of the shelves this weekend. The toys on the shelves won't take long at all.
I got my piece of Carnival for my fabric of the month. I considered using it for Halloween Fairy, but it just doesn't call to me. So I think I'll stitck to the kit fabric. It's boring, but it's easy. I found the other two on ebay for ten dollars each, but now they're up to thirty, and I can't afford that. Oh well. I also got the fabric and buttons for World Juggling Day. They're very cute. The fabric's much prettier in person, too.
Here's this week's SBQ.Which way do you stitch, i.e. do you stitch /// followed by \\\ on top, or the other way around \\\ followed by ///? Are you left- or right-handed and do you think that this affects the way that you stitch? I do /\/\/\. I cross each stitch as I go, for the most part. I do bottom left to top right (/) first though, if that makes it any clearer. I think it does make a difference being right or left handed, which is more natural. My mom and I are both right handed, and we stitch the same way. My sister is left handed, and all her stitches go the opposite direction. I think anyone could do it either way, but you may be more inclined to go one particular way.

Labels: Kids, SBQ, Tobi's Stocking

Jymi got paid both his regular check, plus two of his five days away. He made more in those two days then his regular four day week! I was able to pay all the bills, give my mom some of the money we owed her, order Tobi's costume, get groceries, and we still had enough money to buy Jymi a DVD he wanted, Garfield: A Tale Of Two Kitties for the boys, and I got my fabric of the month from Shakespeare's Peddler!
It helped get me back in the mood to stitch, too! I haven't wanted to because of all the other stress, but I feel sooo much better now!
I finished all the stitching on my ornament; all that's left is to attatch the buttons. I ordered them with my fabric, and they should be here today or tomorrow. I decided to go ahead and finish finishing my Snowfight ornaments, and when I finished those, I forgot why I was waiting to finish Arm And A Leg until I had sewn it together. Because of the way it's done, I think I can still do it. Darin like them; he keeps wearing them as bracelets. The picture shows the backs, too.
Saturday, I was going to sew the trick-ot-treat bags together, until I had a good look at my sewing machine. I knew Darin had taken all the extra bobbins and feet out of the storage compartment, but he also broke a couple important parts off. I'll borrow my mom's later this week, but that ruined anymore stitching Saturday.
I worked on Tobi's stocking Sunday. Both Jymi and I weren't feeling well, so we spent most of the day taking turns taking naps. About seven though, Jymi was sleeping, and Darin had gone to bed/time out, and Tobi wanted to watch a movie. He wanted to watch Garfield: A Tale Of Two Kitties AGAIN, but I vetoed that idea. I had recorded Hocus Pocus off of Disney channel, and convinced Tobi we should watch the witch movie. This Garfield was better than the first, but I can't watch it everyday. So we watched Hocus Pocus, and since I've seen it a hundred times (my favorite Halloween movie since it came out in 1993), I could devote the mojority of my attention to my stitching. I feel like I got a good bit done for only about two hours. Here's the picture of the shelves before last night. Tobi liked the movie, too, but I had to explain most of it to him. "Where'd the boy go?" "The cat can talk?" "Is the little girl dead?" "The zombie's a good guy?" It was hard to explain the ending. Normally when two caracters walk off into the sunset (or sunrise in this case), you can say, "They lived happily ever after," but when they're dead, it doesn't seem quite right. He enjoyed it though. Right after the movie he went to bed and Jymi woke up. We spent some nice alone time together. Jymi went back to bed around midnight, and when I went to bed at two, he still couldn't sleep. Poor thing. Anyway. I'm going to get something to eat, and then back to the stocking!
One more thing. I have figured out how to leave comments again.

Labels: Ornaments, Tobi's Stocking

I also made cranberries and cinnamon sticks. I finished the top this morning! It's gone slow. I can't explain it, but the rest I think will go faster.
I'm going to take a short break from this to finish my "potty project." I started And Arm And A Leg from the ornament issue last week, when I was still spending the majority of the day sitting in the tub, waiting for Tobi to go potty. That was the day the switch flipped in Tobi's head, and he doesn't need me in there anymore. When he has to go, he tells me, goes, washes his hands, and that's the end of it. YAY!!!!!!!!!!
I got twenty-two stitches in my ornament (two rows of eleven), and then I realized I had the fabric going the wrong way. If I keep stitching the way it is, I won't have enough fabric to stretch it when it's through.
Last Friday, Tobi and I took his Garfield to be framed. I also got some boards to finish my Snowfight ornaments, and to finish off An Arm And A Leg, once I get it stitched. All I need now is the money to buy the DMC Light Effects packs, and use a couple to make cording. Of course I want them all anyway, and all I need is the excuse. I've got the excuse now to get a pack or two at least.
I heard that Hoffman is sold out of the Halloween Fairy kit. I've already thanked Jymi for telling me to go ahead and get it when he did. This makes me feel like I have to get the other two now, though. There's the challenge though, and the fact that I don't have any money. If I finish my ornament, count sewing together the three off them, and the trick-or-treat bags, that will finish off the challenge for me! Then I just have my mom pay me instead of putting the money towards rent, and I can have them. Oh well. I will get them eventually.
Anyway, now I'm trying hard to fight the urge to start my fairy. I was planning to do them all on the fabric they come with, but I may switch it out after all. I've got an extra piece of Highland, which I think would look good with Christmas Elf Fairy, a very light piece of Glory for Easter Fairy, and a piece of Carnival on the way which Halloween Fairy may look good on. I'll have to wait until I have them all to decide, with the threads to do a floss toss, though.
One last note. I've sitched to beta blogger, so if I don't leave comments on your blog anymore, please don't take it personally. I'm still reading, but it won't let me leave comments.

Labels: Fabric Ramblings, Ornaments, Tobi's Stocking