Yes, these are old finishes...

...but they are finally framed. Hence they get some blog space. (Well that and I'm tired and the whole nor'eastern storm thing always puts me off doing much of anything except sleep. And yes, I realize what time it is, I'm getting to bed soon!)

On to the eye candy.

This would be Charm Garden. Don't ask me when I finished it, it was several years ago. It's by Just Nan and all those lovely charms just set the whole thing off.

The every lovely Beach Roses, also by Just Nan.

(The cup is from some dishware I traded my paternal grandmother for. She got a set of Corelle, I got her very lovely 1930's dishes. She thought I was crazy, I think I got the best of the deal.)

Finally Last Stitches by, you guessed it, Just Nan. (I didn't mean for this to be an all JN posting, but it kind of happened that way.) I did actually put the last stitch of this piece in on Dec. 31, 1999. How said is it that it's been setting, unframed for that long. Well not as sad as the part where I confess that I also put stitches in "First Stitches" on Jan. 1, 2000 and that's all that's ever been done on that piece, that's sad...really, really sad.

I love them all, but I have to say a special "Thank You" to the wonderful Vicky B. She did all the stretching and framing for me. I bought the frames you see on Last Stitches and Charm Garden when I was visiting in July. The problem was I didn't have the stitched pieces to leave with her so they got sent with DF Jill when she came for the FSU-'Bama game in Sept. By that time I couldn't remember if I got the gold frame for Charm Garden or Beach Roses, they are almost the same stitched size, so I sent both with Jill with the instruction for Vicky to put whichever one looked best in her opinion. When she got them she thought she had the perfect frame for Beach Roses, so she just framed it and told me if I didn't like I could send it back and she's take it apart. First of all, Vicky is a very talented stitcher and finisher and has wonderful taste, so I had no doubt I'd love what she'd done. I was right! Isn't it lovely?!?!

Now I just have to figure out where to hand these pieces. I'm thinking of starting a "JN" wall. I'll let you know what I decide.

Homecoming and Yarn Sales

On the surface these two things do have anything in common, however this weekend they seemed to go together quite well.

Friday I headed over to Tallahassee for FSU's Homecoming weekend. Got a later start then I wanted, but still made it in time to pick up sweet Anna and take her to dinner. (Anna is a "former" youth at my church and her mom & I are friends.) It may have been a few years since I was a student at FSU as Anna is, I still remember that it's fun to get visitors, especially if they will feed you. Mind you all my visitors were my parents, but that's not the point here. We had a good meal and she caught me up on her classes and told me about the mission trip she hopes to go on this spring/summer to Africa.

After I dropped Anna back at her dorm, I headed over to the friends home where Jill & I were fortunate enough to stay this weekend. Gregg & Traci are actually friend's of Jill's, but I like to think they've become my friends as well. They are both wonderful and have a lovely home. Jill was late getting in because of how late she left work, but that have G, T & I time to sit and talk. Mainly about books, but I'm sure there were other subjects. Jill arrived quite late, so the next morning we got kind of a late start, but all 4 of use went to breakfast and I proceeded to stuff myself with yummy food that wasn't exactly the most healthful choice.

Traci had a massage appointment (lucky Traci, sounded like a fantastic idea), so we dropped her off then decided, fairly spur of the moment to check out a yarn store Gregg knew about. (Ok, backstory, Gregg is a potter, so he totally gets the whole tactile thing with yarn and fibers. This is a good thing. Plus he knows the husband of the woman who owns the store.)

It's been years since I was over in what is now Railroad Square Art Park. It's a bit different, but still has that great funky feel you get in college towns. (If you click on the link you get to see some of the great places in the park and even a shot of yarn at the store.) The store is named Really Knit Stuff and is lovely, as is the proprietress Paula. I highly recommend stopping in and visiting this great store. There were some ladies knitting at the table in the shop and they were happy to have us sit down with them and chat while Paula wound our yarn. Yes, we bought yarn! Of course we did. And I have pictures. They are all separated because I'm trying to upload my stash to Ravelry and figured I could start with the new stuff coming in the door.

First the sock yarns...(I know, I know, sock yarns mean I should knit more socks. Well give me a chance will you.)

Lovely Loden from Cherry Tree Hill

Yummy Tea Green, also from Cherry Tree Hill.

And last, but by no means least, Serengeti, by you guessed it Cherry Tree Hill.

Let me explain why I HAD to get the first 2 (because I'm sure you can see by the loveliness of the 3rd why I had to get it. I mean really, it's fabulous. So fab that Jill also bought some.) You see there was a sale and I can't pass up a good sale and let's just say, they ended up being a price I couldn't turn down.


Lastly I bought 2 skeins of a "new to me" yarn from Barlett Yarns. It's loverly! I'm not sure exactly what I'll make, but I totally saw it as a purse of some sort, probably a cable somewhere in it. The 2 skeins will give me 420 yards and at 5.60 each skein after the sale, that's awesome. Oh, the color is called Lovat. (What a great Scot-inspiring name. The picture doesn't show the tweediness of this yarn and you certainly can't smell the great wool smell.) It's just wonderful. Can't wait to see how it knits up.

Well that's the knitting haul from the weekend. The evening was capped off by a win in football by my alma mater. As is our tradition, Jill & I stuck around after the game to watch The Marching Chiefs perform their post-Homecoming game show. They always end with "The Hymn to the Garnet and the Gold" which I like a lot more then our actual alma mater song. It totally caps off Homecoming for me. So glad we decided to stick around.

Came home today to some chores, mainly laundry. I'm also a bit behind in getting my Hogwarts sock finished. All this travel has not been as conducive to knitting as I thought it would be. It would be so much easier if I could knit and drive at the same time, but alas I've not figured out how.

Weekend Update part deux

Saturday arrived fairly bright and early. DF Heather and I had decided to skip the huge breakfast downstairs and instead head either to the lovely local java shop across from the hotel, or if they were closed, the Starbucks in the hotel. Unfortunately the local shop was closed. DF Jill joined us and we partook of some nourishment and plenty of caffeine (in my case) to get us ready to tackle Rae Iverson's class.

I am never disappointed by Rae's designs and classes. Sure there are classes that I have taken that I may never finish, or really need a refresher course on, but all in all, I love her designs. This year was exceptional. (For some of us it was more then exceptional...Heather.) Let's just say that when Heather saw the piece she let out a slight scream, or maybe a squeal. You see, the lovely piece has squirrels. Cute, adorable squirrels. Heather loves her some squirrels. Here's some pictures of the main pieces...


The front and back of one piece.


My very blurry picture of the front and back of the cute pin cushion.

Well, there was nothing to do but start on this one in class. It's just adorable. This is what I was able to accomplish while there. I've actually worked on it since then and finished the border you see started and am working on the inside part.


One last look at the cover, you can see all the pieces, including the very cool scissors sheath.

From there we went to Barbara Rokosnik's class (Periwinkle Promises for those who aren't familiar with her name.. She's lovely and the class piece is adorable. The best part of the class was learning a new way to go Queen stitches. I love learning new ways to do stitches, especially when it makes it easier for me. (Plus now I'm stoked about getting the new Ellen Chester purse pattern with all those Queen stitches. This new way of doing them will make it so much easier to I think.) Anyway, Barbara's piece is this cool tin and it's not one of those tins you have to eat candy for (although I personally love that candy and a few of those tins around here just waiting for toppers that I have the patterns for...but that's an entire other posting...). This tin is way, WAY cool. It has holes on the side and you can actually do some stitches on the side. Swanky huh? oh, you want to see pictures....

(Sorry these are smaller, but this is getting to be such a long post. You can click on them and see a larger rendition.) The picture on the right shows you what I managed to accomplish over the weekend. I'm not keen on the bubble-gum pink color she used with the kit, so I'm doing a bit of rearranging color-wise with the kit. I'm going to add in another silk that I think will work as the outer most border of Queen stitches. Yes, those are Queen stitches, eventually there will be 3 rows of them total in the border. Haven't decided what overdyed to use yet. Still looking through my stash and if I don't have something I like I'll have to go shopping for something. I also purchased the companion kits for the tin, a scissors fob and needlebook. Well, I purchased the scissors fob at ASG, thought I'd gotten the needlebook, but apparently I forgot to pick it up. Thankfully Barbara is very nice and has rectified that little problem, probably before I manage to get this posted.

That's it for the classes. Saturday night some people dressed up for dinner. Others of us just wore crazy shirts.
Yeah, that's almost all of the "Stitch Queens". These are my dearest stitching friends...and regular friends too, funny how that has worked out. From left to right: Judy, Jean, Ann, Jill, myself, and lastly (The Magic That Is) Heather. The original group can be seen over on TMTIH's blog in a picture from a few years ago when we originally formed to do a round robin. From there we've grown a bit. But these are my buds, both in stitching and in life.

Sunday morning was fun. Not only was the now obligatory slide show present, but there was also a surprise 40th Wedding Anniversary for Ron & Rae Iverson, who put the whole thing on. It was a great surprise and a wonder the group who did all the work for it was able to pull it off without being found out.

So, that's it. I arrived home safe and sound Monday evening and have been catching up ever since.

Contest Alert

Wow, 2 posts in one day! But this is important. See the new button on the left? the cute one with the pink Dyson? Well, you can enter too. Just click the button and follow the directions to enter. How cool is that?

Just in case you missed it over on the side!

Weekend Report

And what a weekend it was! I think everyone had a fantastic time. I know everyone I hang with did. Sometimes you go to things like this and you like one of the projects, sometimes a couple, but this weekend I liked all three! This ranks right up there as one of my all time favorite ASG's.

I started things off with a bit of fun. My DF Jean and I had arranged it so I'd be on the same plane as her, DF Jill & DF Heather. However, we hadn't told Jill or Heather. I almost got found out Wednesday night. DF Jill called and I was waiting in the truck for mom to pick up our dinner at the local Chinese take-out. She hadn't asked about my flight for this year at all, but she did then. I think she assumed I'd arrive before them and would be meeting them at the hotel. I told her I had to be up at "0-dark 30", I thought we had to leave around 5:30 or so. Which was the truth. We were leaving that early to be able to have a good breakfast before I got on the plane and mom & dad headed up I-95 towards West Virginia. We had planned to have breakfast at Cracker Barrel which is in my top 5 for places to get a good breakfast, hence the entirely too early wake-up call. When I landed in Atlanta Jean helped me figure out where they were by way of cell phone calls. (How did we plan surprises before cell phones? I mean really. You'd have to plan way ahead and that's just not possible with this crowd.) They ended up at "On the Border" in the concourse we were headed out of for some lunch and I surprised them there. It was a lot of fun to see the look on Heather's face especially, she was flabber-gasted.

Finally we arrived in Louisville and at our hotel, the Seelbach (which is nice but is old and there are issues with old hotels...like ghosts and small rooms and small bathrooms, and bugs in beds - but we won't discuss that because it just freaks me out. Luckily the bug wasn't in my bed.) We met our DF Judy at the airport and other DF Ann arrived later after driving from her new home near Knoxville. (BTW Ann hasn't updated her blog in awhile, but she's been very busy and hasn't had a lot of time to blog, much less the ability what with the move.)

It is our custom to go to dinner at Lynn's Paradise Cafe on Thursday evening. We love the food and the fun atmosphere. This year we found out we also love the staff. In case you didn't know, Louisville had some tornado and tornado-like weather that evening. Which meant we found ourselves in the basement not long after we arrived. The staff was AMAZING and took care of us by feeding everyone snacks off the line and bringing us some cokes and lemonade...although I didn't see that until we were leaving to go back upstairs. For pictures and a more indepth coverage check out DF Jill's post about the experience.

Friday the festivities began with a lovely lunch/tea. This year we could not only wear our favorite hat, but also bring any well behaved dolls or teddy bears. I decided this year to wear the hat that I finally finished and got felted before I left last week.That's Heather and I with our bears. We were the only one at our table with bears.

After lunch/tea we had our first class of the weekend. Our group started with Eileen Bennet of The Sampler House. I have always wanted to take a class from Eileen, but never had the chance, so this was a real treat in my book. (That's Eileen in class. I'm sure she's describing how to do a stitch...yeah, I'm sure that's what was being discussed....)

Eileen designed a lovely band sampler in wonderful autumn colors.Not a great picture, but it's called "Little Green Acorn Band Sampler". I actually got quite a bit worked on the top band, both in class and during the weekend as you can see below.
The fabric isn't that green/yellow, but you can see what' I've done so far. Eileen was an excellent teacher. She also did the lecture Friday night after dinner. She talked about Catherine of Aragon, but mainly about the people around her, like family and of course Henry and some of his other wives. Very interesting history. That of course led me to have to purchase Catherine's Sampler. I also bought a few other things from Eileen's portion of the boutique... Accomplishments and History in Miniature. There were plenty of others I loved, but settled for those three.

Friday night most of the gang gathered in one hotel room, mine & Jean's I think, to stitch and talk and drink some Cosmopolitans...yeah, alcohol was consumed by some of us. Believe me, Heather and I needed it the most. That night we started doing the finishing work on the infamous "cubie".

So, there's the info on the first two days....more tomorrow.

SBQ

This week's SBQ is:

Do you railroad?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2007/10/sbq-working-on-the-railroad/

The simple answer is yes. But that's not always true. Sometimes I use what my mother calls a "nose picker", which by any other sane person would be called a laying tool. Specifically it's a laying tool that fits on your finger so it's easier to hold and use. When I use a laying tool, I don't railroad because, well I don't have to since I use the laying tool to accomplish the same thing. Sometimes I only railroad the top leg of the cross stitch, other times, both legs.

Short and sweet today since I haven't felt good all day. Woke up with a nasty pain in my right shoulder. So far it has refused to go away even with alternating heat and cold and taking some ibuprofen. Off to see if some sleep will help.

Decisions, decision

Sometimes it's fun to make decisions. I need to make a fun decision, what stitching to take with me to ASG tomorrow. I only want to take 1 item. I thought an ornament, but I don't want to take something that I have to start. Too much trouble. I narrowed it down to 3 items: 1)part 1 of Leporello book and yes, I'm still on part 1 which is crazy since the whole thing ended in March of this year and it started last year some time. I like to start things you know; 2) Halloween Fairy & 3) the class piece from Catherine Theron from last year's ASG. My DH Heather said I should bring Leporello, but as of right now it's not in my carry-on. What did make it was Halloween Fairy and "B is for Bunny" (which wasn't one of the original choices which tells you about my decision making abilities lately). I do have Leporello Book fixed so it doesn't take up much room, so I may stick it down in my bag. Crazy things have been known to happen.

Otherwise, I'm packed and ready to get some sleep. Tomorrow morning will come way too early, I have to leave my house at 5:30 A.M. - no that's not a typo, that's the real time and if you know me you know that I don't usually see that time of day. I'm gonna need a nap tomorrow...or lots of coffee.

2 Days and a Wake-up Call

That's the way I like to think about today and it's position in the week. I'm 2 days and a wake-up call away from going on a short vacation, a long weekend if you will. (You know, ASG - A Stitchers' Gathering - I've mentioned it at least once in the last couple of weeks.) So today was busy, not just because it was Monday.

The beauty of working from home is that getting ready for a trip is really a whole lot easier. I can get in the office, do the things that HAVE to get done, and then do stuff to get ready to leave. Things like finish a purse that I knitted but haven't gotten around to lining. Not that doing that should take the entire day. No, it shouldn't. But not only did I work on it all day, I didn't finish. In my defense I also answered the phone and make lunch and dinner and did some laundry, and some other things that escape my memory right now. Oh, and I sewed it up the wrong way. Yeah, that's the real issue. I sewed up what I thought was the bottom, but what turned out to be the top. And to top it all off, I'd sewn in a pocket for my cell phone to reside in when I'm not talking on it and of course I put that in not just the wrong place, but also upside down. I tell you, when this is done I'm going to be so happy. Well, not just because of the finishing problems, but also because it's a very cool purse and I love the colors, all fall/autumn like. So, no pictures of it yet, but I promise if by some miracle I manage to get it put together tomorrow, I'll take pictures.

I also have 1 more ornament to finish from the exchange this year. I really wanted to take them all with me to show off , put in the gallery on Sunday for others to see. Still hopeful on that count, since it's just a pillow ornament with some ruffled trim and it's all cut out. Maybe I can manage to get it finished.

The best news is I have laid out all my clothes and just need to figure out which piece of luggage I'm taking and get it packed. I'd love to say I won't have to check anything, but that's unreasonable for me. I'll be checking my bag. I'll also have a new carry-on to take. Saturday mom & I went to the mall to check out a few things, and the Lancome people at Dillards were having a give-away with purchase PLUS you could buy this very cool bag with FAA approved sized bottles for shampoo and stuff. So, my mother bought it for me. It's really pretty and nice and big. Can't wait to see how much stuff I can get in it. For years I've carried this canvas backpack from Liz Claiborn that I love. Actually it goes on car trips too. It's been to Israel, Egypt and back, not to mention more then it's share of FSU football weekends. She hates it. Has been trying to get me to use a different bag for years now. But it has great sentimental value, plus I know how to pack it and get LOADS of stuff in it. I think the fact that I showed interest in this bag and said what a great carry-on it would make was enough to make her jump for joy, or buy it for me. She chose to go with the buying part. She's nice like that. The rest of the mall trip was ok. She found some clothes. I found a book. Nothing spectacular. Still, it was shopping and that's always a good thing!

Not really a contest

...more like a drawing. Head over to Mindi's (a.k.a. Wyora) blog and check out how she's accomplishing her PIF. It's the perfect way to remind all of us that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and that we should all be doing our self-exams. (Take a look around her blog while you're there. She does some very beautiful stitching.)

There's also a contest for a great charm/key chain over on Stitch Pink. If you aren't checking out this blog, you should be. Who doesn't know someone who's had breast cancer? Or maybe you've been diagnosed? There are some very cool ideas the others have done if you need a little something to stitch for a friend to let them know you're thinking about them.

I think that's all for now. Good luck to us all!

SBQ for this week

I thought I'd leave this with you while I'm gone to ASG over the weekend. I promise to return next week with at least some sort of report and some pictures. I thought it was an interesting question, but I'm not sure my answer is all that interesting.

This week's SBQ was suggested by Ternezia (ok, this may actually have been last week's question but hey, I'm trying to catch up.)
(http://loreleicrafts.wordpress.com/) and is:

What for you means to achieve mastery as a stitcher?

I used to think it would be to becoming proficient in a certain number of stitches. Then I learned a lot of stitches and found out there were things like pulled thread work, drawn thread work, blackwork, goldwork, Hardanger and other such wonderful things. So then I thought it would be learning how to do all those things and mastering them. Well, I've taken classes in each of these types of stitching and I'm not sure I've achieved mastery as a stitcher. I think that there are some stitches and some forms of stitching that I do pretty well. Not to mention some I actually like to do, even though others cringe at the thought of that particular stitch. (And here I'm thinking about a certain person and a certain stitch that will remain nameless...Judy...) I also thing to be thought of as mastering stitching you'd have to at least once design something that you stitch. Part of mastering is the ability to take what you know and put it in practice. In a way I have done this when I participated with my DFs Jill, Judy & Heather in a round robin several years ago. (You can see all four of the pieces here.) So, I guess in a way I don't think I'll ever achieve mastery. I think what I've managed to do, and what I'm currently satisfied with, is mastering those areas of stitching which I enjoy.

See I knew that was going to be convoluted and probably not make sense.

Yes, my camera does work

I've been promising pictures of my finishes. I kept saying I was actually accomplishing something, but you were just having to take me at my word. For all you know, I could have been sipping margarita's by the pool, if I had a pool, which I don't, but I could have been just drinking. But I really was working on finishing, as crazy as that sounds and as much as I'm more about the starting and not the finishing, or even the completing of the stitching for that matter. Now you have proof that I did stop stitching and knitting long enough to make ornaments, or at least something that can pass for ornaments. That being said, I'm not the best at finishing. I can, and I do on occasion, but I'd much rather stitch. So without further chit-chat and digression....
Ta-da! Can't remember the name of this ornament, but do know it was in the 2006 JCS Ornament issue. It was one I had to stitch for the exchange I'm in. I finished it as a stand-up. It can be hung as well, but I have a feeling I'll sit it at the base of my tree. I'll probably do some more like this as time goes on, Like small packages around the tree with the stitched ornaments. I think it will be a cool look.

This is Silver & Gold, also from the 2006 JCS Ornament issue. I love how this one turned out and can't wait to do the other 2. There was one before this one and one in the issue that just came out. They are a set and have to do with the song "Do You Hear What I Hear", which has always been special to my family and especially my mom. That may be why she liked this one so well. Anyway, the back is finished with this lovely deep red/brown velvet and I used a really pretty braided trim that is white and gold around the edges. I only bought enough trim for this one ornament. At the time I had no idea it was the 2nd of 3. Really, people should tell you up front they're doing a series, then I can plan accordingly. I want them all finished the same, so I've got to get back to JoAnn's to get more trim. I've got plenty of the velvet.
Last but not least, the Roly-poly Snowman. This was my "surprise" ornament that I stitched for the exchange. I love how he looks. Used some pretty cotton quilting fabric on the back, kind of plain, and then made some twisted cord from some Perle cotton in blue and white. I found out that making a round stuffed ornament is not very easy. It looks pretty good, but I think many sins are hidden by the cording.

So, that's what I've been up to the last couple of days. Well that and work and other stuff. Unfortunately tomorrow morning I'll be at a funeral. A friends mother died a couple of days ago after suffering with cancer. I didn't know Cheri's mom, but Cheri is a very special lady and friend. I'm going so she'll know we care. Then I hope to be able to finally get my long sleeve shirts out of storage so I can decide what to take with me next week. Lots to do, lots to do. Hopefully I can get the important stuff finished.

I have pictures...

but I haven't downloaded them. So you'll have to just hear what's happening until I can manage to get pictures taken and actually downloaded from my camera.

First, my hand is feeling better. Thankfully. Although I've been trying not to do much to aggravate it. Seriously, I have to be able to stitch next weekend. That's what ASG is all about. Ok, so it's also about seeing friends, eating and finding the best chocolate desert we can find, but there is some stitching as well. Really, there is. I'm sure of it. I know I've seen other people stitch while there, and I'm fairly certain I've even stitched some myself in years past. Considering how I really want to work on several different stitching projects, and considering how the descriptions of the projects for this year sound, I'm sure I'll have plenty to keep me busy.

But I digress...I've been working on some actual finishing for items I've stitched lately. Had a few minutes this evening to sit down and start putting the braid around one of my ornaments that I sewed up and stuffed last night. Actually sewed and stuffed 2 ornaments last night. Need to make some cording for the other one. I'm fairly resigned to the fact that I won't manage to get my "cubie" put together before I leave for ASG next week. Right now my plan is to take it with me to do the finishing in the room. I'm trying to talk Heather into bringing her stitched "cubie" with her and having a finishing party one night. I think it's do-able.

Tonight I had dinner with some friends, kind of a "pot luck" except we all knew what we were to bring. (Yummy pot roast, mashed potatoes - from me, green bean casserole, bread and cheesecake for desert. Oh and a couple or 3 bottles of good wine!) Anyway, I took my Lynton cardi. with me to work on. Managed to get a few rows in while we sat around and talked. Then it was all about the food and talk. Came home and did some more while I watched my beloved Seminoles loose to Wake Forest...sigh...I really do dislike college football on Thursday nights. Anyway, I did knit and I don't think it's hurt the hand, so I'll take a every spare minute to knit on it in the hopes of meeting the goal I set. Stay tuned!

Monday, Monday

I knew it was Monday by the way I felt when I woke up. It didn't get any better either, but that's neither here nor there and is not at all why you read my blog or anyone elses, so I won't dwell.

I wish I had a lot to tell you about all the lovely stitching and knitting I did this weekend, but I don't. I did knit on my Lyton cardi on the way to Tallahassee to see my Seminoles win another football game. My friend Sharon and I went over. Sharon's daughter, Anna is at FSU again this year. She's doing well there and is beginning to really get into being "at college". We took her to lunch before the game and did a little shopping at Bill's Bookstore. The game was fun, even with the 49 minute delay due to storms in the area that had lightening. We waited it out and I'm glad. I have this thing about leaving a football game before the clock has "double zeros". The drive back wasn't too bad, we kept ourselves awake talking and listening every once in awhile to the LSU-Gator game on the radio. Arrived home in time to see if LSU really had scored a touchdown to win the game in the last minute. There's really nothing as exciting as college football! Especially if you grew up in the south.

Sunday I worked on a little piece I hope to have done for my aunt's Christmas present. Not sure if I've mentioned it before and I'm sure I haven't taken a picture. Must do that. It's a fun, easy piece from Silver Needle. It was the Secret Needle Night piece from May 2006 and was a birthday present from my DF Vicky. I never get these kits, but I'm always intrigued by them. They always are so cute and seem to have such great fibers in them. Plus they look like they'd stitch up fairly quickly. This one sure has. I figured it went with this month's theme, since it's supposed to be a gift.

The only other news is about my hand. I think I am developing some arthritis in my right hand. This is especially bad since I'm right handed. I'm trying not to let it keep me from stitching or knitting or other things, but it's a little painful. I don't think all the rain last week has helped. I've taken some OTC meds and that has helped some. Hopefully it will go away for awhile. Doesn't it realize I have a stitching weekend coming up very soon????

Jill has suggested, after seeing the bag of stitched items that I really do need to do finishing for, that I should declare Tuesday's as finishing night until further notice. Tuesday's has been ornament night. I'm not sure I want it to not be ornament night. But I also want to have these ornaments finished so they'll look pretty on my little tree. Last year it was nice, but it would look FANTASTIC with even more ornaments. I'll see how I feel tomorrow and let you know.

SBQ

This week's SBQ was suggested by Jennifer and is:

What are your favorite online stitching supply sources?

I love, love, LOVE this question because it lets me tell you all about some places that you may or may not know about in the stitching world.

1. Needlecraft Corner - Drema is amazing! I've never gotten to visit her store, but I have made a promise to myself that if I'm ever in the Baltimore area I'm so there. You have to call to order, but believe me you'll love talking to whoever answers. And if it's Drema you'll find yourself having a friendly conversation and getting all the lovely stitching pretties you want. Plus she always has something on sale that you need. Oh, and don't forget to sign up for her birthday club.

2. The Silver Needle - Another great brick & mortar store that has a wonderful online presence as well. I have ordered from them in the past and have always been happy with their service.

3. Attic Needlework - in Mesa, AZ. This is one store I've actually been to, and let me just say it was worth the trip! WOW! The walls were full of great designs and the staff was fantastic. I've never ordered from them over the phone or online, but have a friend that has and had great service. They have a newsletter that's great.

4. European Cross Stitch - I haven't ordered from here in awhile, but it's another great site and I've always had great service from them. They carry a lot of the hard to find European designers, as the name implies.

5. Hand Dyed Fibers (a.k.a. Vicki Clayton) - I discovered VC several years ago and love her silks. Love the prices too.

6. Moss Creek Designs - I love all things Rae Iverson, so this is the site where you too can browse her beautiful designs. Rae and Ron, her wonderful husband, run their business from their home. They also have a lovely event twice a year called "A Stitchers' Gathering". I haven't missed a fall one yet. Rae invites two other teachers to join her and for the weekend stitchers from all over get together to learn, talk, eat, oh and we even stitch on occasion. In fact, the fall event is coming up weekend after next. (I'm actually counting the days until it's time to get on the plane and leave.) Take a look at her designs and the events. I recommend it all. I know, her designs look hard, but believe me, her instructions are some of the best you'll ever see. The only other designer that even comes close to having instructions as good as Rae's is....

7. Ellen Chester of With My Needle - and you should check out her site too. It has wonderful goodies on it as well.

There's plenty of others, but I need to stop and get to bed. Had a hard day today. Migraine that wouldn't play nicely and go away. Hopefully it's been banished though. Finally got out of bed this evening around 5-ish and made some dinner. Then sat in front of the TV and knitted on my Lynton sweater. Which reminds me....I finished the back last night and cast on the 2 front sides. So that's what I worked on this evening. I'm hoping to feel like going to Tallahassee tomorrow for the football game. If so, I'll be taking the sweater to work on in the car since the friend I'm going with offered to drive. YEAH! It looks like I just might make my goal of being able to wear it at ASG in 13 days.

Pink is In!

I think everyone I know has had to deal in some way with Breast Cancer. So, I give you Stitch Pink and the very cool contest that you should enter. After you do that, take a look through the whole blog. Great things are happening there.

After the weekend...

in which there was much rejoicing as my college football team won against University of Alabama, I find myself very blah. Blah because it has rained since Sunday afternoon. Today is worse then yesterday was. In fact, it's raining quite heavily right now. Not that we don't need the rain. Rain is good, it means the likelihood of a fire goes down. But this is what the weather people call a "nor'eastern" which means is well...blah. Not a lot of sunshine mixed with the rain. Just rain. Since I haven't quite finished the top of my "cubie" I won't regale you with that.

October's theme is "Obligation October". Which really has to do with anything you need to finish for Christmas presents. I'm not sure what I'll be stitching on. I do know I'm still trying to get my cardigan finished before I leave for Louisville on the 18th. It may happen, but I'm becoming doubtful. I also have some socks to finish for an exchange. Worked on them last night some. The only other thing I've been thinking of for a present is for my aunt. I may get that done for her for Christmas. I'm not feeling very Christmas-like, probably because of the rain. Maybe soon.