Got Mojo?

And by Mojo I mean for stitching and purchasing stitching. As those of you who are regulars (and by regulars I mean people who come and read my blog when I actually write something) may have noticed I haven't been stitching all that much. In fact I haven't been stitching hardly at all. Maybe a little canvas work when I was in Atlanta in July, but otherwise, nary a stitch in a piece of linen have I made. However, all that seems to have taken a turn for the worse better in the last week or so. I'm not sure exactly what changed, but all of a sudden I want a needle and floss of some sort in my hands.

Of course that means that I've been purchasing some goodies from a couple of my favorite on-line/remote needlework stores. I could list everything here, but instead I'll wait until I get stuff and show you. Instead I'll show you a few pictures of what I've been working on.

First and update on my Christmas Fairy. Isn't she pretty?


Then there's a long overdue start on The Daughters of Longbourn. Some of you may know that I love Jane Austen's books. All of them in some way shape or form speak to me. A couple of years ago my DF Melody gave me this lovely pattern and a cut of Vintage Maple Sugar fabric to stitch this one. I started the border last week when I was having trouble sleeping since I had those fibers. Then I called one of my favorite online stitching stores, Needlecraft Corner, and had the ever wonderful Drema send me the rest of the Crescent Colours needed. Not much to show yet, but it really is going to be beautiful!

A larger shot and then a bit of a close-up on a corner.

Finally I'm going to show off something that will have to be our secret. My parents will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary March 3, 2011. I feel the need to do something to commemorate this event, because let's face it so few people manage this milestone anymore and it should be celebrated. I'm sure there will be a party of some sort and there has been talk of a cruise, but that's not lasting. So I went looking around at samplers. I have been debating between Emblem of Love by the wonderful Ellen Chester of With My Needle and A Sweeter Love by Plum Street Designs. Both are beautiful and it was a hard decision, but again DF Melody to the rescue. She happened to have the chart and a piece of lovely Vintage Exampler linen in her stash for Emblem of Love that she was willing to part with. Throw in the fact she had enough Belle Soie in Elegant Eggplant and the deal was struck. She very kindly sold me everything I needed and Tuesday at our EGA meeting I received it all and that night I started working on it. My hope is I can keep it a secret from them and maybe have it complete before the date. It's a hope and a goal, nothing bad will happen if I don't quite make it. So here's a peek at what I've managed to do as of Wednesday morning when I could take a picture since they were both gone to daddy's eye dr. appointment.


As I said, I'm working it on 36 ct. Vintage Exampler with a single strand of Belle Soie. The color is beautiful, my picture doesn't capture the subtle changes. I've actually finished that motif and a couple of small ones next to it and started the next one that is below the one you see. I'm going to make some changes, take out some motifs to allow me to personalize it with their information. I'm playing with the idea of using a gold color for the personalization. Something with an aged look. Now remember you have to keep this a secret. You can't go telling mom how pretty it looks.

Since I started this I received my order from Drema and will take some pictures of the new stash to share when I get a chance. There's this thing called work that keeps me from stitching, knitting and blogging, the only good it does is allows me to add to my stash.

Lastly I need to show you a picture of the adorable needlepoint bunny I've been working on. This is the piece I obtained during my last trip to Atlanta and is the reason I'll be headed back that way in November so I can take a class from the woman who helped me pick out fibers and decide on the stitches to be used.

Don't you just adore him? Lots of fun sparkly fibers to play with. I think that's why I have started to do some needlepoint, the fibers you can use.

That's my update. I have more to share and I'm still working on a catch-up post from earlier in the year. Hope everyone has a safe Halloween weekend!

Project Saturday

Today was the Saturday put aside to do some more work on the ongoing remodel of our kitchen. Some of you may remember that we got new counter tops a while ago. And by "a while ago" I mean over a year, in fact I don't even know when it happened. There has been more then a few debates on what to use for the back splash and how to finish out the window. Finally a decision was made and today we put the plan in to action. Except we also kind of changed the plan when we got started and thankfully we over bought the amount of glass tiles we'd need.

So, this morning we started with this.

And then we started debating where to put the glass tile and where to put the stuff that looks like tin tiles but is really plastic. We had originally thought to put the glass on the bottom and use just 3 or 4 rows of it, but then we started playing around with it and totally changed our minds. By 7:30 or so tonight we had this. (Sorry for the bad pictures but it was dark and the flash and the lights distorted the colors, the actual color of the counter top is what it looks like in the before pictures. I'll try to get some more tomorrow in the daylight.)



It's still not done. I have to tile all around the window, put in the window sill and also grout the tile. Plus I need to find covers for the plug and light fixtures. I know I've seen ones that are "glass" so that's what I want to use. I think it will end up looking really great. Plus we're going to finish the top and the bottom with quarter round since there's a bit of a gap between the wall and the counter top. I'll take more pictures when I get more done. Hopefully not in another 2 years!

Last night I finished a small ornament that's been in my bag for awhile. Just a cute freebie that I received as a kit during one of the Ornament exchanges.


I felt like stitching some more last night so I pulled out my Christmas Fairy and went back to work on it. As of last night she looked like this...



One final picture of our fireplace all decked out for fall.



A little bit of everything, but it covers the entire season.

Where does time go?

I know, there really isn't an answer to that question but I really am not sure where the time has gone between my last blog posts and today. It's been over a month. I'm pretty sure I'm just slack, but it could also be a bit to do with life. So to catch you up I give you the following.

1. I met my DF's Heather, Michael, Jill & Andy in Orlando for a long weekend of fun to celebrate Michael's birthday a bit early.

Andy, Jill, Me, Heather & Michael (Isn't he the brave one?)

He wanted to go to Universal Studios, especially the new Harry Potter portion. Much fun was had by all.

Hogwarts!

There was Butterbeer

And I got to meet the Hogwart's Express conductor!











And there was food.......and drink that was quite lovely everywhere we went.









Of course there was the wonderful pleasure of the company of my friends who all live in the Atlanta area. It was Andy's first visit to Florida. I hope we managed to show her a great time so she'll come back some time.

2. I have been supplementing my stash lately. Not a good sign. I don't have pictures of everything but I did do some damage when I went to Atlanta in July for my birthday.

Top row: ShibuiKnits Silk Cloud to be held with Noro Kureyon Sock for a scarf
Row 2: Rowan Lima for sweater, 2 colors of Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima in a garnet and a gold for a tank top, Ella Rae Bamboo Silk for a little jacket.
Row 3: SWTC Xie in two different colors (a shawl or 2 in the making), The Alpaca Yarn Co. Paca-Peds sock yarn, Noro Sekku 
Bottom: Wollmeise Lace-Garn.

3. Went to Savannah after church just this last weekend to see the fall incarnation of the Gospel Show at The Savannah Theatre. I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but if you are going to be visiting Savannah you need to make reservations to see whatever show it going on at this theater, and I don't just say that because I've known the Musical Director/Drummer and his family for years and have become friends with one of the other cast members. It really is a good time. We went in the Spring when they did this show and my parents wanted to go again this fall. There were a few changes, some of the cast was different for a variety of reasons. 

Since it was on a Sunday afternoon we left right after the 9:45 service at church and drove up. Now, we left pretty close to 11AM but because of traffic and the fact I travel with a couple of older, distinguished folk, we made it to the theater about 20 minutes before the show started at 3PM. Seriously, for normal people it's about a 2.5 hour drive. Of course we stopped and had a light lunch and the obligatory bathroom breaks along the way. But I didn't feel bad since Chris pulled into the parking lot and parked as I was parking our vehicle and getting out. Figured they couldn't really start without him so I'm going to put it down to having impeccable timing. 

Sunday evening mom, dad, Chris and I went out to eat. We were staying right at City Market, so we  thought we'd go to Vinny Van Go-Gos for pizza but the wait was at least an hour and mom was hungry. Then we thought we'd walk over to Jazz'd, but along the way we passed a few nice places and a band so in the end we ate at Cafe at City Market.  Food was good and the weather was perfect. There was even a fairly decent band playing at that end of the market outside. Daddy tried to pick up a new girlfriend, but decided to stick with mom at least until next year when their 50 year contract has to be renewed.


Monday was reserved for lunch at Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room.  We'd never been, but we had pros to help us navigate the awesomeness that is lunch at this institution. Chris and fellow cast member Sheldon met us there along with two friends of Chris', Angie & Kassandra. Kassandra has just returned from a year long tour of duty in Iraq (you can just barely see her sitting next to Sheldon in the picture below), so we were especially honored to share a lovely meal with her. They are both lovely young women and are both engaged to young men who are serving in the military. We had a fantastic time chatting before we went in to eat and during our meal. Well worth the wait (yes, Sheldon, even if we weren't supposed to wait).  That's just half the table, you should have seen the other half where daddy was "protecting" the fried chicken.

In case you can't tell: friend chicken, mac-n-cheese, biscuit, rutabagas, creamed corn, fried cabbage, cole slaw, cucumbers in vinegar with some pepper and in the middle some candied yams.

Yep, that's bowls of greens, peas, green beans, lima beans, beef stew, and who knows what else.

After lunch we bid a fond farewell to Sheldon and then Chris, but only after he helped me find the lovely needlepoint store The French Knot I'd heard about that is just around the corner from Mrs. Wilkes. A bit hidden, since it's down an alley, but just beautiful inside. Met the owner, Audrey who is both talented and lovely. Of course I found a little something to purchase and will be heading back there when I travel up that way again. If I lived in the area I'd have their stitch-in nights on my calendar. 


Isn't this just the cutest little ornament. Audrey had it, and the other two in the set, finished a couple of different ways. I'm thinking I'll have to call and order the other two canvases before it's all over. And her fiber wall was a thing of beauty. I should have taken a picture but I'd left my camera at home.

After that I headed to Wild Fibre for a little yarn stash enhancement. Found some beautiful Alchemy yarns for a new scarf and just HAD to purchase a couple of sock yarns. I also ordered a book that they will send me when it arrives.  

4. I do have a long overdue picture of a finished knitted project. The picture isn't that great, because I made it at night at a friends home with my iPhone and not in daylight with my camera. However the model is outstanding and a really good sport. She's my friend Janet and the mobius scarf she's wearing isn't even for her! It's for our friend Joyce who was busy doing something else. Janet loved this so who knows, she might receive one in the future.
 

I'm sure I've missed some things, but I'm going to hope I can do better at blogging and have something else to share another day.

Free Spirit?

Today I was talking to someone who probably doesn't know me all that well even though we do work together. This person made a comment that has me thinking. They called me a free spirit. Actually what they said was, "I think of you as a free spirit." Like I said, we work together, and honestly I'm not sure what it is about me at work that would have anyone thinking "free spirit". Is it because I'm a contractor/consultant? Is it because on my Facebook page I have listed all the countries I've visited, the books I've read. Is it the comments about the things I do? Because honestly I've never been called a "free spirit" and for whatever reason this has me really stumped, or thinking or something.

Lately I haven't been feeling all that interesting. I mean, really, let's see I work, I go sing at church and do some other stuff there, I read, I knit some and stitch even less. That's it. See, boring. REALLY boring. And then today, "I think of you as a free spirit." Huh? So, what makes someone a free spirit? Is it doing what they want at the drop of a hat? Is it doing things their own way, not conforming to what other's expect of them? Is it selling all their belongings and backpacking through Europe while writing a really great novel? What is it?

So, ya'll tell me? What makes someone a free spirit in your mind?

Oh, and I promise I'll try and get part deux of my travel adventures up tomorrow. That way I can blog about my trip this weekend when I come home without having to wait too long...at least I hope I can!

Ria Made Me!

My friend Ria tagged from her friend Thom at Thom's Place  with this. I answer these 8 questions and then tag 8 others. Thom is running a contest  on his blog with a $20 gift card to any online store that has gift cards. To play, and win, you have to be tagged, answer the questions and then go over to his blog and guess how many people will do the same by Wed, Sept. 15th. I decided to play, wonder who else will


My answers:
1. Why did you start blogging? 
I started blogging to quiet my inner writer. Really, that's why. One of my dreams has always been to write a book. So instead of doing that I decided to write in a blog. You'd think from the fact that I haven't been very good at keeping up with this blog my inner writer is not that loud. That is not the case. She's still very loud, I've just learned how to ignore her as the years go on. Maybe I'll start listening again and either work on this blog more often, or actually start writing a book. (And yes, I have a couple of ideas I just need to work them through.) 
 
2. If you could travel anywhere in the world with no restriction of costs, where would it be and why?
Wait, do I have to pick one place? Are you kidding? If I had no cost restrictions I'd travel to all kinds of places. I'd go back to places I lived and traveled in when I was a child so that would take care of England, Wales, Scotland, Italy, Spain, Holland. Since I'd be in the vicinity I'd have to add in Ireland, Brussels, all of Scandinavia, Germany, Portugal, Austria, Greece. Then of course there's the old Soviet bloc countries that have so many different interesting places and architecture. I'd pick and choose in there but certainly Moscow, St. Petersburg, Budapest then down in to Romainia. Then I'd have to head into places like Turkey, parts of Africa, go back to Egypt and see Alexandria, Luxor and the Valley of the Kings and return to Cairo to spend some more time at the museum since we didn't get as much time there as I would like. Also I'd go back to Israel and go to Elat and spend a day or two there among other places. Head over to Jordan, maybe look up and old college friend from my High Point days, plus there's Petra and Madaba to see among other things. Then it's off to the Far East: China, Japan, Hong Kong, Tibet, Singapore, and some other places including Bali. Then Australia and New Zealand. Do you get the picture with this list off the top of my head? It would take me years to do everything I would want to do and see. I've dreamed of seeing the ancient ruins in Greece and Rome for ages, plus Crete, ever since I took all those Ancient Greek Art & Architecture classes in college. (Yes, I was a business major, but hey a girl has to have some fun classes too!)  There are just so many wonderful things to see and do that I would have a hard time picking just one. And you said there were unlimited funds!
 
3. Did you have a teacher in school that had a great influence on your life? If so, what?
 I've had several teachers who influenced me, but none to the point that I could say steered me exactly to where I am in my life today work wise. I had several teachers who encouraged my love of reading and history, especially Mrs. Bowles and Mrs. Ellis. I had both of them all through high school for English/Lit. and Humanities. They both taught me a great deal about literature and writing that I still think about today. Both encouraged all of us to take time to read and learn about more then where we were right now. That's a lesson that has absolutely stayed with me over the years.
 

4. If you could spend the day with a famous person, who would it be, and what would you do?
I hate this question because there are so many people I'd want to meet, but I'm going to go with Jane Austen today. I'd love to spend a day just talking to her about her characters. What they meant to her. Where she found her inspiration for them and how she viewed her own life. Share a cup of tea or two with her and mainly just spend a day doing what she did in a normal day.
 

5. Toilet paper – over or under?
I'm an over person myself, but I'm not fanatical about it.
 

6. Name one thing in your life that you would do over if possible.
I'd go straight to get my masters, probably straight to law school. Wait, back up. I might even go back and not transfer to FSU from High Point and finish my degrees there, then go on to law school, then maybe go to get my PhD. Not take a break just do that. 
But in reality, I'd probably make the same decisions I made before. 
 

7. Tell about your pets – if any.
I have parents instead of pets. They don't have vet bills, and they do talk back to you instead of just listening, but I still love them!
 

8. Do you live in a small town or a large town. (You don’t have to name the town.)
I live in the suburb of the largest land-mass city in the US. That just means that I have the benefits of a large town (pro football, semi-pro baseball, concerts, symphony, Broadway road shows, excellent restaurant choices, museums) AND I live in the small town that I basically grew up in where I can still go to my high school's football games on Friday night and see people I've known almost my entire life. And I can live in a house on 2 1/2 acres instead of right on top of my neighbors. It does mean I have to drive a bit to get to most anywhere I want to go, but that's ok, I don't usually mind.
 
I hope I've given you all enough time to participate. I'm pretty sure you all ready my blog fairly often and these really weren't hard questions.



Now for my  victims Jackie - Jackie's StitchesJean - Baa Baa Knit StitchGrant - Mostly HarmlessJeanine - Sleepy Weasel Studio (long time since she's posted)Heather - It's Geek to MeKaroline - Karoline's CornerMelody - Wooly ThoughtsSusan - A Work in Progress 

 

Who knew you're name could tell you this?

You Are Submissive Sexy

You are sexy because you are sensitive. You feel deeply. You're the type of person who loves being seduced and pursued. You're too passive to ever take the lead, but you don't mind waiting for someone to notice you. And once someone is chasing you, you love every moment until you are caught. Everything inside your head gets a little intense at times. You can get a bit overwhelmed in the bedroom. Your senses are very sharp. You are easily stimulated and turned on.

What's Sexy About Your Name?

Blogthings: We'll Tell You The Truth... Someone Has To!

Well now isn't that interesting? 

All about travel (part one)

So today we bring you part one of the recap of my latest travels. I've managed to go to Atlanta twice since the spring. Once with my DF Jackie, who's blog you should check out, and once by myself. Both trips were wonderful. Plus I made a quick trip up to WV for a family reunion and to help my parents drive home. Not to mention two trips to Savannah.

I'm guessing you want more information, or at the least some pictures of swag or other such nonsense. Luck you, I have just what you want.

The trip in April was for Stitches South. Neither Jackie nor I had ever attended and we were very much looking forward not only to the class we had signed up for, but also the chance to check out some yarns we had heard of but never seen or felt. Let me just say that we did our share of shopping. We stayed with DF Jean and her fab husband which helped cut down on cost, or should I say helped us be able to spend more. I'm not sure when we took this picture, I think it was after day 1 when we'd gone to class and then waited to get into the "hall of yarny and related goodness" for early bird shopping. In fact, I'm fairly certain that's when this was taken.

Now understand that this is for three people. Yeah, it still looks like a lot, but in my defense, I've already finished one shawl from some of what is there and am 3/4 way through another. I'm ready to sign up for next year. Maybe take two classes this time.

Of course it wasn't all about the loot yarn, we also spent time with friends Jill, Heather and Andy. Jackie got to meet my stitching/knitting friends in Atlanta and we even found a few minutes to take her to one of the stitching stores so she could look around. And yes, I did buy a small little something there that I've been working on (and need to get progress pictures of).

Mom, Dad, myself and several other friends also went up to Savannah in April to see a show at The Savannah Theater. We saw Southern Nights that day. It was the first time mom and dad had gone up and they really enjoyed the show. We always have a great time. Before the show mom and I found Wild Fiber and I did a little shopping there.

Lovely shop and very near the theater so that's just perfect for when I get to go back for a visit.

And here's a picture of "the gang" having a bite to eat before the show started.

from right clockwise: Mom,  Don F., Lynn F., Tony F., Janet F., Joyce & my dad

I even have a picture of my dad after the show. Isn't he handsome?

Left to right: Chris Fullerton, Dad, Michele (I think)

Chris' parents are Don & Lynn in the picture above and we've all been friends for years. In fact, all of us attend the same church and are pretty close.

We went back up to Savannah for Chris' birthday in May and got to see the Gospel Jubilee they were putting on at the time. Amazing is the only word I can use. We're planning on going back to see the one they do in the fall as well.

Wow, that's a lot for one day. I think I'll leave you in May and try to bring you up to date with the rest later this week. Don't want to bore anyone you know.