My Friendship Sampler RR...is leaving home.

This is the Friendship Sampler by Carriage House that the RR group I am in is doing. Today was the deadline for the first mailing...which I am deliquent. Due to getting back home from Quebec and dealing with my cold/lack of energy and trying to get caught up with household stuff put me a little behind...but I finally finished my first heart(s) and my name/state. So, I will get it in the mail first thing tomorrow.

I have posted a photo of the hearts I did and will be sending on. Some of the group is doing their own color scheme - some liking a red theme, another doing a purple - I have decided to keep the DMC colors listed on this pattern, which are browns, greys, avocados and ecru. However, in my instructions I am giving each individual the freedom to either follow the pattern for the heart that they choose, or to make it unique...yet keeping with the neutral/earthy color scheme. As you see, I too have changed up the patten a little...playing with different floss & colors; but keeping within the color scheme. When the piece comes home, I plan on adding some pearl beads to the middle heart I stitched (where there are the cream spots) - and some other embellishments on the heart above. That is what I mean by making the heart unique.

What is fun, if things work out, I might actually meet some of the people who are part of this RR - due to some of the travels I will be doing with my son's hockey team. Next week is Seattle where they will be playing in the District Finals. If they win that, then it is Nationals in North Carolina in April. Well...as we say - one tournament and/or one game at a time.

Today was a nice day - not only outside here in Northern California (in the mid-60s and sunny) but nice because DH came home early and joined my younger son & I as we visited one of the California Missions. Studying missions is a big part of 4th grade curriculum. Some classes have to actually build a mission - that was one of our choices, but we chose visiting one and photographing it. He will then write a paper on the mission and create a story board with the photos he took. I felt that this was a better choice than building the mission, because these creations get so elaborate and expensive (I just didn't have the time and didn't want to spend the money on another school project). Going back to what I was really getting at...it was nice to do a little family thing with DH since he and I haven't really had any time together in several months with all the hockey travel.

Well...hope everyone had a nice Friday. Remember to Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often! Lisa

Back home - time to catch up on my RR

I am back home from Quebec...actually I got home late on Monday evening, but needed a day to catch up on laundry and other household things that DH and younger son did not really kept up with (not that I expected them to).
Now that I feel I am in "semi" control of those household tasks, I need to focus on finishing up my part in the Friendship Sampler RR that I am part of. The heart that I took a photo of a couple of postings ago, I am basically finished with...but I decided to do a couple of other hearts before sending it off. The first mailing is this Friday, so I have some work that needs to be done!
The big thing that I am worried about is the edges of the fabric. I don't have a sewing machine and I am not good at binding edges - so the worry regards the edges unraveling while it is being worked on by the other women & send around. I am thinking to see if any of the other members of this RR would take the time to help me with the edge problem...or would this request be an imposition? (feel free to comment).

I hope everyone is doing well and staying well, as I know the nasty flu is going around. We came back with several kids coming down with fevers & sore throats on the plane. My son and I started with the sore throat and cough early in the trip - so hopefully we are on the road to recovery!

Stay well...remember to Live, Love and Laugh...and stitch often! Lisa

Sightseeing in Cold Quebec City

Today my son and his hockey team are staying with their billet families - each doing their own thing...I think my son & his teammate are going to watch their "billet brother" play in a hockey game. They emailed me the address of the rink, but I decided to get in a little sightseeing & shopping today. We are leaving here on Monday, so I needed to get some trinkets to take back with me for the rest of my family and some neighbors, who were kind enough to watch our dog while my whole family was out of town (DH and younger son were in Colorado springs over president's weekend for his hockey tournament). That is me in the photo in front of the Chateau Frontanac - one of the top hotels here in Quebec.
The city is beautiful. It has a lot of European charm with the old stone buildings, narrow cobblestone-like streets. It would be fun to come back here sometime when it is warmer, which would make sightseeing a little more appealling. I just don't care for this cold any more since moving from Minnesota to California over 5 years ago. I am looking to get back to the 70 degrees and shorts!
Well, back in my room to thaw out a little and get organized for Monday's departure...I think that I might take a little nap before we meet up with the team to go to the Legend's game this evening. The hockey game we are going tonight will have alot of NHL players who made it to the "big time" and played in the peewee tournament when they were 11-12 years old...hence, they are legends of the peewee tournament. After I rest up, I might even get a little more stitching done on my RR.
Lisa

Hanging in the Hotel

Hello from Quebec. It is our 11th day here. My son and his hockey team won their game yesterday, so they advance again and have a game this afternoon. The routine for the afternoon games has been to pick up the boys, who get dropped off by their host families, at the Pepsi Colisee and bring them back to the hotel we are staying so they can have some quiet time to do some homework and take a nap. There are 4 of us staying in the hotel (2 coaches, another parent and myself) - so we basically split up the boys between our rooms and let them curl up in the beds or couches. I have been blogging about this experience at www.pwaaquebec.blogspot.com if you are interested in reading.

Yesterday, after their game, most of the boys were able to go back to their host families; all except four of the boys. So the coaches decided that they would be able to handle the 4 remaining boys until 6:00pm, when they would be picked up - so they dropped me back off at the hotel. Which was nice, because I have come down with a nasty cough...I don't feel bad, but this cough is horrible. On Tuesday, I went to the snow park with the team and enjoyed snow tubing down these extremely big hills (I have never snow tubed and I don't like roller costers or heights...but I managed to go down these hills and had a good time)...but I think that I might have over done it and seemed to have caught a little chest virus or something. So, having the opportunity to hang at the hotel last night was nice. I caught up on a few things that needed to be done for the hockey team as well as got in a couple hours of fitness. A good workout and early to bed, is what the doctor ordered!

Also, between my relaxing afternoon yesterday and supervising the study halls, I have finally put my first stitches in my Friendship Sampler RR. This is my first RR - which I am excited about doing.

I am stitching on 32ct Creme Luguna. The pattern has a lot of hearts, which each of the others in the RR will stitch (and they will stitch their name or initials and the state). While I am planning to use the DMC colors the pattern names (even though they are mainly neutrals - olives, browns, greys, etc) I started the center heart with Needle Necessities Inc #189 (overdyed). I had this in my stash and thought that it was a great compliment to all the DMC colors called for in the pattern. Nevertheless, when I send out my RR, I will instruct each participant to feel free to be creative when they stitch the heart of their choice...keeping within the color scheme, but making their heart unique. I will try to get my portion done and ready to send out as soon as I get home on the 23rd of February.

Hope all who read is doing well. Take care! Lisa

Hello from Quebec

Hello stitching friends, I thought I would take a few minutes and post so that you knew that I was still around. I have been going, going, going...but it looks like after a little outdoor scrimmage the boys played this morning, I have the rest of the day to myself...which I might actually take a nap, do a little exercise and make time to stitch.
The picture to the left is one of my son's team (the San Jose Jr. Sharks PeeWee AA in white) and the other team they scrimmaged (the Cleveland Barons PeeWee AA in red). It was just a fun game without any score keeping. There was a referee there - who happened to be the son of the host family my son is staying with. My son and his teammates are enjoying their time so far...the best activity they have participated in so far has been the out door hockey opportunities, like this one today. California boys don't get this opportunity very often. Below is a photo of my son!

Yesterday, we didn't do too much with the boys - so having the day off I was able to sleep in and then join some of the other parents who made the trip up to Quebec for a little site seeing. We mainly checked out all the Winter Festival activities. However, after a few hours outside and just a few degrees above zero F...it is very cold.

Hope everyone had a nice Valentine's Day. It was nice to see my son and give him a little card and chocolate heart, but I do miss being with my DH on a holiday like this. For the second year in a row, we have been in 2 different places due to hockey tournaments. Last year he was in Colorado and I was in Arizona...this year, he is in Colorado again and I am up here in Quebec. Oh, well, I guess that is the way it goes when you have 2 kids in travel hockey!

Take care...and remember to Live, Love and Laugh often...and stitch on...Lisa

Shoo-fly progress...and an update on life

Well, I have finally found time to sit down and update everyone on the progress of Shoo-fly. I have been able to finish filling in the white squares...which are not white any more. I like the way it turned out, it kind of has a stain glass window look. I am now working on creating a black border - first I will just create the border with the satin stitch and then I will probably fill in the triangles with black...somehow. When done with it, I am going to investigate the cost of finishing it as a pillow. I don't have a sewing machine and really don't have the skill to finish it as a pillow myself - by hand.

I do need to sit down and begin my Friendship RR. I have the pattern, my fabric and have come up with some ideas for the color scheme. The scheme seems to have an earthy color theme - lots of browns, olives, ecrus and so on. While I will probably make notes of these colors for the other women to incorporate in the hearts that they stitch, I will also advise them to make each heart unique - to individualize it.

At this moment, I am in Quebec City with my older son's hockey team (that is why it took me a few days to finally get Shoo-fly posted). Tuesday was an all day of travel and today, the first full day here, was full of getting the team checked in and then getting them to their first practice. I am blogging about their adventures here in Quebec, so that the parents who are not going to be able to fly up here to witness some of this will be able to get a view of what their son is doing. If you are interested, you can read the daily blogs at: http://pwaaquebec.blogspot.com/.

Well...it is well past midnight - so I need to go to bed in order to be ready for another full day with the team. I am thinking about packing my stitching, because there seems to be a lot of "hurry up and wait" which is a wonderful time to sit and stitch.

Hope everyone is doing well...I haven't had time to catch up on any blogs lately. Until next time, remember to Live, Love, Laugh often and stitch on...Lisa

Out the door again...

Well, once again my stitching projects are packed up and my suitcase is ready to go...for tomorrow I will be heading out with Robert's hockey team to Quebec City. Fifteen pre-teens (11-13 year olds), 2 coaches, one other parent (who is a doctor) and I will be boarding a plane tomorrow morning. I have created a blog http://pwaaquebec.blogspot.com/ to journal this adventure - especially since many of the families will be sending their child to this 2 week tournament and they are staying home. For many, this is the first tournament that they will not be accompanying their child. I am going as the team manager - but it is still but pure choice as I do not have to go. The boys will be staying with different host families (2 players per Quebec family)...so I will technically not see my son. Since I am sure that I have written all of this, before, I will stop now.

Regarding stitching...I have finished stitching the white squares on the "Shoo-Fly" project (hopefully I will find a moment tomorrow evening to post a photo). I like the way it turned out and hope you will too...yes, I promise to post a photo soon. I have packed that project because I would like to create a black border around the design, which I believe will make it stand out even more. In addition to that project, I have filled my stitching bag with an old project (the boys skating outside - posted back in December) and a new one (the Friendship Sampler for my RR - first send is due at the end of February).

I know...I know...all this typing is boring - so I will stop right now and hope that I haven't bored you bad enough that you won't return. Let me get to Quebec and get settled, then I promise to get some photos posted!

Take care...remember to....Live, love and laugh ofter and stitch on...Lisa

A drive by posting....

Got my stitchin' stuff packed up...the duffle bag in car along with Robert's hockey gear and we will be on the road after I get him and his brother from school. Matthew will be staying behind with dad so that he can go to school tomorrow. We should be in Los Angelas around 10 maybe - if traffic getting out of here isn't bad and the rain stays away for awhile....

Robert's first game isn't until 4pm tomorrow afternoon, so we will have the majority of the day to veg in the hotel room - I with my needlework and him with his homework...

Thanks for all the visits lately - I love reading the comments.
Lisa

Go Red For Women - "It's Our Hearts. Our Choice"

National Wear Red Day is Friday, February 6th - wear your favorite red outfit or accessory this Friday and raise the awareness that heart disease is the number one killer of women. Some companies will actually have a "go red day" where employees donate $ and wear red...the money going to the American Heart Association.
Aside from the $ and the wearing of red...it is also a reminder that it is important for us women to take time and take care of ourselves. Just like remembering to take time and have a mammogram, please remember to have your heart checked out - to eat a healthy "heart" diet and to move around for 30-60 minutes (or more) a day. For more information, here is the link: http://goredforwomen.org/
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Snipets of the other life threads....

I "enjoyed" a very crazy hockey weekend and spent yesterday organizing another one coming up. Last weekend Robert's (older son) hockey team finished in 1st place in the playoffs and advance to State Finals, which starts this Friday down in Los Angeles. So that means another trip, another hotel and more juggling of the "2-kid-hockey-family" for next weekend. As to not bore anyone reading this, our plans for next weekend include me driving down to LA w/Robert on Thursday after school lets out (it is about a 7 hr drive). I will be there Friday to do my "team manager" stuff and to see, what should be, one of the more challenging games. I will also be there to see the Saturday 7am game and then will jump on a plane to get back home. DH is flying down Friday, late afternoon, leaving Matthew (youngest son) at a friend's house. On Sunday...DH and Robert will drive home, assuming that they make the championship. If your confused...just know that I am happy about the way things are working out for this weekend - for I will be able to be apart of the State Finals celebration for at least 2 of the 4 games with Robert and then be able to be home to be with Matthew & get organized for the upcoming Quebec trip...which is coming up on Feb. 10.

BTW...I am suppose to be choosing 8 special blogs to pass on the Friendship Award too. I have been thinking about who I would like to nominate and I come up with so many that it is hard to come up with only 8...so, while I hate to sit on it right now, I would like to - and then full-fill my duty around Feb. 14th.

Hope everyone is doing well...remember...Live, Love, Laugh and don't forget...to stitch on! Lisa

Blog Friend Award

What a wonderful way to begin the month of February - the month of friends, love and hearts...thank you so much Beth from www...crossedpurposes.blogspot.com. This nomination comes with this meaning...

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

This means a lot to me, because it signifies one of the main reasons why I started blogging back in November '08...to share a part of me with others...and the reason why I read others' blogs, to show support for others - in their accomplishments, challenges, and disappointments whether it is with a needlework project or just with life in general. So again, thank you Barb for your nomination.

In turn, I would like to nominate 8 more...but, please forgive me, as I would like to do this on the 2nd of February (tomorrow). It has been a crazy weekend and I need to get caught up on a few home related things before we start the week.

So...remember to live, love and laugh...and of course...stitch on! Lisa