A Step in Life

I'm so excited, I'm going for my first interview since our son was born!  I was shortlisted for a one on one interview at a health insurance company, and I'm lucky enough that it is under 10 miles away :)

What does this change...only everything!  My stitching is going to be limited, which means I will have to break down and tell hubby about the Taj :(  I was really hoping to keep it a secret and give it to him next year for his birthday, but if I'm working, I'll never have time alone to work on it.

Hubby did promise help with the house work, which means that I'll be looking for someone to clean once a  week :)

Now, to the current project that I'm working on.  I started another small hardanger piece, I want to make sure that I have good technique before setting it aside for the cross stitch.  However, this one I'm struggling with.  I have had to frog it more then I have stitched...oh well, that is the way it is when you learn something new.

So, I'm going to finish here and get back to stitching/frogging...LOL...

Happy Stitching!!!

Ornament

I'm having too much fun with this!!  

If I thought that cutting my first threads was a scary, cutting out the whole piece was almost more then I could handle...LOL...but I did it!!!  

I think I'm going to try something out of the Priscilla Hardanger...here I go!!!

Ohhh...and here are some pics of the ornament :)

Before I cut it out...my hands were shaking!!!

And here it is!!  

Until next time...

Happy Stitching!!!

My First Attempt at Hardanger

I'm sooooo excited!!  I know it's small and I can see some mistakes, but I did it!!!

I didn't use the correct threads, so I can't expect perfection...lol...I did go out yesterday and purchased some 22ct hardanger fabric and the correct threads, so I'm looking forward to trying a harder piece!!

I think I found a new hobby...

I have been busy lately with back to school shopping and my normal daily routine.  When I get online, I tend to read blogs and search for new cross stitch patterns.  I have never tried to make a biscornu, so I have been looking patterns for those.  While searching pictures, I ran across one that was hardanger.  I'm in LOVE!!  I have seen Hardanger before, but never really LOOKED at it.  Now see, this is something that drives hubby NUTS, I just have to get "one more project" and my list grows :)

I have been scouring the internet for free patterns and hardanger how-tos, but there isn't much out there.  I broke down and bought a book!

I am in love with several of the patterns, but I can see that this is written for someone who already knows this style of embroidery.  I think I'll just start with some small basic things and see how it goes.

I'm thinking that I can get a small pattern made for Christmas ornaments to give as gifts, which means that I'll be pushing back my fairy piece, but isn't that the norm!!

Ok...I do have a piece that I just have to get finished!!

Happy Stitching!!!

Counting Eludes Me :(

I'm working on a Fairy for World of Charity Cross Stitch, and I have had to frog her skirt bottom 5 times :o(  UGHHHH  Just when I think the count is right....NOPE....I'm going to kick that frog to the curb!!!

Mindless...

I was able to work off and on with this small mindless piece.  I love it, I'm thinking about using it as an outside pocket of a bag :)

Busy

I have been so very busy this week, and it's not over!  Sadly, I haven't even been able to pick up my stitching :(  but, it's kinda been nice :)  I don't get the chance to run all over and do things with friends, and this week I have been doing just that!  The house work has suffered along with the stitching, the only thing I have been able to do is keep dinner at the ready...lol...it's been kinda nice to have the opportunity for the change up in things...

Things come too easy for him...

Mathai had a lesson this past Saturday, and it was less then a pretty sight.  After almost an hour of his riding instructor telling him the same things over and over, I stepped in and told her enough he's done.

With the lesson being over, he was sent to take care of his horse while Kristen (riding instructor) Hubby and I discussed the show next weekend.  The final consensus is that he simply didn't put in the effort to show.  According to Kristen, he had moments where he was a better rider then the other girl in the arena (she has multiple championships) but again, they were only moments, and he needs to maintain his strength and form for the entire class.

There are many things that I can teach Mathai, but I'm stuck at how to teach him to put effort into something :(

I'm a SAHM, my day is filled with cleaning, laundry, yard work, gardening, cooking and if I'm lucky stitching gets in there somewhere.  Mathai has been given the responsibility of cleaning his toy room and bedroom along with feeding the dogs, and he is required to clean to my standards ;o)

As we are sitting here working on a lesson book, I hear  "I can't do this, tell me which is correct!"  The answers are given to him, he simply needs to put them in the right place....arrrhhhhhhhh  LOL

I can't get him to understand that life is only going to get harder, and unless he puts effort into learning and even playing, then nothing will ever happen.....

With that said, I'm done with my rant!!!

I'm off to get the cleaning done and get some stitching in!!

Relieved!

I'm so very happy to report that the Butterfly Alphabet IS FINISHED!!!

I love this now that it's finished, but I really had to force myself to finish it :(  LOL  When I bought it, I didn't think twice about all the back stitching....ohhh what that a huge mistake!!

I took the picture right after pulling it off the frame, I didn't even run the lint roller over it!!  Now it's on the counter drying, and then I'll press it and take it in to be framed :)

I've found something special!

I was on Facebook this morning and found a post on a cross stitching forum.  I followed the link on the post and was taken to a wonderful blog!!  It's a cross stitching blog for charity!!  How WONDERFUL is that!!!???  I'm always looking for "filler" projects, and this is right up my alley!!  It's two wonderful ladies that have started it, and many volunteer stitchers :)  They make several different items for the children at the Ronald McDonald house.

My husband and I have always been very thankful that our son is healthy, what better way to show our love and support to family's who are struggling with a sick child!!

I think I've found a calling!!!

I'm off to the craft store!  I have to get some supplies :)

Happy Stitching and God Bless!!

Before I go here is the link for the blog I'm talking about:  WOCS

For Joyce :)

I snapped a pic before I started working on it this morning.

Happy Stitching!!

Yippy!

I was almost depressed this morning, looking at the day's schedule it seemed like I wouldn't be getting any stitching done.

Now I'm doing the Happy Dance!!

I was able to get some stitching done on the Taj!!!  I'm about 1/2 way done with the first page :)

I ordered the fabric for the Fairy, and purchased most of the threads for her :)  I can't start her until after the butterflies are done, hubby doesn't like me to have too many projects going at once :(

Happy Stitching Until Next Time!!

Taj Mahal Mandala Garden

Ok, I'm still hanging in there!  LOL  

I feel like I have been stitching forever today, when in truth, I haven't :(  I started working on the Taj, only to find myself frogging the same stitches over and over.  I just had to walk away!  So what did I do during my break?  I turned an adorable picture I found on the internet into a cross stitch pattern!!  I made some changes to the picture and I'm thinking it will make a very nice piece when it's finished.  The butterfly alphabet is almost done, so I'll need something to work on while DH is home!  hehe

Ok..here is the Taj so far :)

I'm working with many new flosses and threads, some I love and some I could never use again and not miss them!  I know that specialty threads add that extra "someth'n someth'n" but they really are a pain in the behind to work with!!  

I guess that is all for now, I have about an hour before DH comes home!!  Off to add some more stitches!!

Until next time....Happy Stitching

Heather

Too Much Maybe

I was finally able to pick up the Taj this morning.  With Hubby being home, I simply can't work on it, so it gets set aside (and well hidden).

As I'm working on it this morning, I'm finding that I'm really struggling!  I'm thinking that I may be in over my head more then I thought :(  The directions are hard to follow, for me anyways, and I'm a little lost.  So, my search begins!  LOL  I'm off to find some pictures of other's who have finished this, maybe by looking at their finished pieces, I can find my way through my own.

I refuse to give this up, if I don't struggle, then how can I ever learn!!!

Happy Stitching :)

Framed

I thought I would post a pic of the Lullaby Baby in her frame.

I'm off to work on the Taj now :)

Monday Monday

I spent ALL of last week on the cross stitching gift, leaving my house work in the dust, or maybe it was just the house in dust :)  I spent the morning cleaning and catching up!!   Now laundry is in and I'm looking at my butterflies again along with the Taj.

But...here is a funny for Monday...

Enjoy and Happy Monday!!

Happy Stitching :)

Lullaby

I've finished the baby in the clock :)  I learned a lot this week while stitching her.

1.  Keep a FINISHED piece on hand, trying to work something up in a week takes the fun out of stitching!
2.  It's ok to substitute colors and make it my own.
3.  I'm very far behind in my house work, so now I have to play catch up!!!!

Here she is!!!

I'm going to be adding another page to my blog for all my finished pieces :o)

I have to put the needle down, for today at least, and get a few things done around the house.

Until next time!

God Bless and Happy Stitching!!

Getting There

Oh...I have been stitching almost nonstop!  I guess I'll never win a speed stitching contest!  LOL
I'm happy with the progress, but I know that I have more to go and time isn't on my side.

Here is where I'm at with her as of right now...

I still have some back stitching on the baby, stars, moon and clouds, not to mention framing :o)  I'll get there!!!

Lullaby

As I said in my previous post, I'm working on quickie project.  I'm planning to have this little cutie completed by the end of the week!!  I needed to take a break, so I thought I would post the picture that I took of her yesterday...

She is a little different then the design photo, I have given her black hair w/blue highlights (sorry you can't see them from the picture) her skin tone is a little darker since she is Indian.  Also, her sleeper is a little different too.  Here is the design original...

I'm a little further along then what the photo shows, but this is a teaser!  I'll post more again later this week ;o)

Happy Stitching!!!

New Piece Going On the Hoop

Ugh!  We just got an invitation to one of my Hubby's co-worker's wife's baby shower!!!  The Husband is throwing this bash, and a friend of ours has asked me to make something special!!  I HAVE A WEEK!!!  I really wish that I had given more time, I usually make baby afghans for the new baby's along with a cross stitch piece.  I think I'm going to have to come up with a new strategy this time.  I'll get a small cross stitch piece done, and then make the afghan.  I know that they are having a little girl, but I don't know what colors the baby's room is, I'll have to get that information.

I have enough colors in my stash to substitute for the design colors, so I'm off to get this going!!!

This is what I found...

Happy Stitching :o)