A little show and tell time

It is hard to believe that it is Wednesday already. I feel like the week has just started - hope it slows down just a little for we are not ready for the summer vacation to end quite yet. Well, anyway...today I have some stitching things I want to show you.

First, I saw on the Ornament Swap blog that Conny received the ornament I stitched for her - so, I get to show you the little snow man:

Snowman from Just CrossStitch Ornament Edition 2003 

 I had to "borrow" the photo Conny took and posted on the Ornament Swap blog because the one I took before I sent it to her is on another computer, which one of the boys is playing on. I am so happy to hear that it reached her ok and that she liked it. I had fun stitching it and finishing it (almost kept it for myself...lol). The next Ornament Swap recipient is me...how cool is that?

The other thing I want to share with you is the Eat, Sleep, Stitch sampler that I have been working on. Here is where it is now:

(Above) - the top 1/2 of the sampler

(above) - the bottom 1/2 of the sampler

I think that I am just about done...but I feel that I need to do "something" on either side of the initial/date band, but haven't figured out what that "something" is yet. I know that I will figure it out - sometimes these things come to me while I sleep :)

In the mail today, I received my Annual Halloween Issue of Just CrossStitch - the Halloween ornaments on the cover are so cute. I haven't had a chance to sit down and look through it yet, but I am planning to later this evening.

Aside from the stitching news, the other interesting thing that has happened in our household is we now have 3 working laptops (one laptop is an old IBM ThinkPad we received 7 years ago from a company DH use to work for, one we purchased and one is on loan to us until November). The reason for the excitement is because DH found a way to get rid of those horrible computer viruses which attacked one computer a year ago (once it was "sick" we put it on a shelf in a closet, thinking that it was gone for good) and the loaner over the weekend. He figured out how to rid the loaner and then decided to see if he could resurrect the old IBM...and he did! Which was really exciting because it was the one that I used while spinning on the stationary bike...now I feel that I am back in business - - - Happy Day are Here Again...ok, it is the little things in life that put a smile on my face :)

That is about all from our house hold...hope you are having a good week! Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

It is Friday - yahoo!

I thought I would start out my Friday post with a status snap of "Eat, Sleep, Stitch", especially the band at the bottom I have been working on this week. The pattern for this (information regarding the pattern can be found on my post titled: Tuesday) does call for all cross-stitches, but I have been having fun playing with some specialty stitches, which might show up in the photo (you might be able to click on it to enlarge if interested). I think that they are called Rhodes Stitch (?).
I have also been playing around with the size of the x-stitches...the majority of the motif-band design was stitched 2-over-2, with some stitched 1-over-1. So, again just having fun using some different stitches, while using some quaker-like motif patterns I have in my stash, to create my own sampler-of-sorts around the inital "Eat, Sleep, Stitch" design.
Did any of that make sense?

So, we find ourselves at Friday...the end of the week and the end of another month. We will say 'good-bye' to July and 'hello' to August over the weekend...and with the beginning of August, the smell of change is growing stronger. Summer camp for the boys will be concluding soon, the first hockey practices will be starting up, paperwork and dues for the upcoming school year will be turned in. And when the sun comes up on August 24th and the school bell rings - summer vacation will be over.

But let's not rush it, for we still have 3.5 weeks left - which we plan to enjoy and make the best of every moment!

I hope that you can find enjoyment in every moment today, tomorrow and beyond.

Until next time, remember:

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

Tuesday

And now onto the week ahead..
We find ourselves at Tuesday already (edited and reposted - post) - the second day of another easy, quiet week. Robert (older son)'s junior camp leader assignment is at the local summer preschool this week - "working" a morning shift, coming home for lunch, and then going back in the afternoon; while Matthew (younger son) attends the local afternoon camp. I go to work in the mornings, while DH is at home with the boys. And NO HOCKEY during the evenings again this week.

With the low key weekday/nights, I have found more time to stitch at home. And while I showed off my finish of "Eat, Sleep, Stitch" over the weekend....well....I have decide to continue stitching on that piece of fabric - kind of creating my own sampler of sorts. Here, take a look at it:

I decided to keep it in the Q-Snaps and stitch other shapes and things around the "Eat, Sleep, Stitch" until the area is basically filled up and then I think I will frame the piece. Using greens, blues, yellows, ecru and a similar pink, I stated stitching from a pattern I purchased at the Jamestown Settlement gift shop during the Wash DC trip (the 8th grade trip I took with Robert & some of his classmates last spring). This gift shop had a small endcap of needlework - predominately sampler motifs...some small designs and some larger ones. According to the information included with the pattern, the needlework patterns being sold in the gift store are representative of what seventeenth century girls in England and Virginia would have stitched...

"Fine needlework was a highly valued skill in seventeenth century England and Virginia. Girls began learning to embroider at an early aga, and by their teens they often became very proficient at this art. Samplers were used to demonstrate their embroidery skills. typically, the sampler had no practical function except as a display item, but samplers would have been present in almost every middle and upper class home. The importance of needlework in seventeenth century Virginia is demonstrated by the large numbers of pins, needles and other sewing related artifacts that have been found at Virginia archaeological sites. The samplers themselves have not survived from archaeological sites, but this particular example, although it is from England, is still representative of the sort of needlework seventeenth century virginia girls would have been producing.

~taken from the insert in the purchased pattern.

This paticular design is a section (one band) from the pattern called "Tree". There are 3 bands in the pattern, but I probably will not stitch it as per the layout of the pattern...just choosing what will fit and look good in this spontaneous sampler I am stitching.

So, there you have it...I hope that you have a wonderful day and until next time remember:

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa

Friday's Finishes

I am FINISHED with work for the week - Yay! it is the weekend!

I FINISHED folding the laundry for the moment - until the kids throw some more in the hamper.

I wish that I was FINISHED with my morning spin, but I still have another hour and a half to go.

..but those are not the real finish that I am excited to show you...

drum roll, please:

I put the last stitch...and attached the flower button I had in my stash to:

"Live Life Simply...Eat, Sleep, Stitch"

As I mentioned, the basic concept for what I stitched came from the Eat, Sleep, Stitch Pattern by Cherry Wood Design Studio...

but I didn't "totally" follow any of the patterns published (see the cover of the pattern above). I started out stitching the pattern for the needleroll using thread color of my choosing...then when the word "Simply" wasn't going to fit on the same line as "Live" and "Life", I decided to center the rest of the words. Lastly, loving the daisy that was included in the patterns, I added that to my creation.

The words and the large daisy are stitched 1-over-1 on 28ct evenweave - using my color combonation. The border is stitched 2-over-2...and the daisy button is my own additon, something that I had in my stash which I thought would be fun to add.

So, now what...how am I going to finish it off? Not sure...pillow? needlecase? try my hand at a flat fold? I am going to have to ponder that one - still...what do you think?

Well, while you and I think about that - here is something I want you to take a look at:

What is in this container?

What is it doing?

Take a guess...and then come back tomorrow for the answer.

In the meantime, have a great Friday and remember

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

BTW...for multi-taskers...stitching and exercising on the stationary bike and/or walking are near to impossible (tried it and the whole generations of frog families came to visit right after I finished my workout). However, simple knitting and exercising, that can work without too much trouble - - - yet, you do have to watch where the ball of string goes so it doesn't fall to the ground and get wound up in the pedal arm of a stationary bike :)

As mentioned on Monday, with hockey tryouts over and all the hockey camps/clinics we signed up for also complete, we are enjoying quiet evenings at home. Throughout the day...I go to work from 9-1, DH & the boys do their morning workout program followed by some reading and then lunch. The boys still attend their summer camp in the afternoon - which they are enjoying it. In the afternoons, DH is doing a little job searching while I work around the house.

Yesterday I finally made it over to the post office and mailed the ornament I finished for the Ornament Swap - it is travelling to The Netherlands, so as soon as I hear that Conny received it I can show you what I stitched for her. The next mail date is September and the next round of ornaments is for ME :)...yahoo (sorry, just a little excited to be on the receiving end...hope you all will forgive me).

With these quiet-at-home-evenings I have been able to find time to stitch on "Eat, Sleep, Stitch". I finished the daisy and started a green border last night. Not enough of a change to post a photo right now, but I will when there is more progress to share.

Well, that is about all to report right now - just wanted to post a quick status while multi-tasking on my stationary bike before I started to read all of your updates (reading your updated blogs is a very entertaining way to pass time while getting in my bicycle spin in the morning...I definitely thank you for your help!)

Have a good day my blogging friend...and remember:

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

And now we are headed into the "quiet" summer routine

Hello Blogging Friends,
Welcome to Monday. How was your weekend? Mine consisted of hockey tryouts - which went very well! For Robert (older son) made the Bantam AAA team...which is the age division and the level he skated at last year; I would have said "the same team" as last year, but with 95% new kids and a new coach it seems more like a new team within the same age/same level as last year. For Matthew (younger son) made the Peewee AA 99 team...he moved up to the Peewee level this year, for he is 11 years old, but this is his first year at a AA level, or Tier hockey as they call it.

DH and I were very proud of our boys, they both had good skates all three days of the tryout. I only really watch 1 full day - for Friday and Sunday, I played a true "hockeymom" which is doing more of the behind the scenes work (providing shuttle service from home to rink and back so one kid didn't have to sit at rink long and/or was able to sleep in longer and/or was able to get to bed earlier; go to the parent meetings after the announcement were made...basically to sign the financial agreements, etc.).My DH stayed in the rink and watched all the skating sessions and would text reports to me, letting me know how the boys were doing. How did we ever survive with our texting?

With a new hockey season, comes with a new opportunity to volunteer...which I have already stated I would be a team manager of Robert's team this year to help with the paperwork and travel arrangements for the group. Been doing this for so long, it is hard to stop now!

Since the weekend was all about "Eating, Sleeping and Hockey-ing"...to keep my sanity, I did find time to counteract it with some stitching!

If you are familiar with this design (there are 3-4 different layouts noted in this project) - I am not really following any of the layouts designed or really following the colors called for...just kind of using the designs and creating my own thing. After stitching "Eat, Sleep, Stitch" I did notice that my count was a little off and it didn't center perfectly under the other words - but I wasn't too worried because I knew that I wanted to stitch the daisy...even though I had some concern that the white petals of the flower might not show up well on white fabric. So, when it was time to start the daisy, I remembered the DMC overdyed white/ecru color that I used on the Quaker Patriotic Heart, I decided to use that...which I am happy I did. For I love the way the petals are coming out...they kind of look like they have some depth to them...and I love the way the middle of the flower came out. I used a NeedleNecessity overdyed thread that consisted of yellows flowing into reddish color; and I stitched it going around from the outside to the inside creating the effect of outlining it. My plan is to finish the daisy, add some back stitching leaf-like design around it and then stitch some kind of border around the whole thing. So stay tuned :)

As the title says, we are headed into a "quiet" summer routine this week and maybe for the next couple of weeks. I head off to work in the mornings while DH and the boys are home doing their morning routine of: breakfast, followed by some hockey skills practice in the garage for a hour or so, ending with a brisk walk with the dog. Then, after they cool off and wash up, they get in a hour of reading before lunch...then it is off to their afternoon summer camp down the street. And in the evening...we have no HOCKEY! All of the major summer hockey camps/clinics are prior to tryouts - so now that the tryouts for the boys are over, there is a little break until the weekend of Aug. 14 when practices start up. And with school not starting until the 24th of August, we can have a little taste of a summer vacation...just enough that there shouldn't be any whining about being bored.

Take care my friends and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

Multi-tasking to a new level

Hello blogging friends, it is Thursday morning and I was able to drag myself out of the nice, warm, comfort of my bed and plop myself on this uncomfortable, hard bike seat of our stationary bike so that I could get in my 2 hours of sweat enduced spin before I have to face the day's activities. As many of you know, I am able to read my emails, update facebook, post to my blog and read your blogs while spinning due to having my laptop stationed on the book platform of the bike (how on earth did you think I managed to spend 2 hours - it would be boring if I didn't get to facebook, email and blog...lol). Anyway, I took this multi-tasking to another level this morning as I decided to photograph the status of my "Eat, Sleep, Stitch" project...

I "plopped" the project on the book stand in front of the computer...and while pedalling, "snapped" the picture (so you will have to forgive the slightly dark and blurry photo...BTW the fabric is white). Call me crazy! - most people do :)

Anyway, I have been able to finish the word "Simply" and "Sleep" as of last night while watching Top Chef. Technically, I am not follow any one of the patterns as listed in the instructions. The one I started to stitch had the words: Live Life Simple all on one line with Eat, Sleep, Stitch on the second and shown it finished as a needle roll or a long pillow. But it didn't look like I was going to have enough room to put Live Life Simply on one line, so I improvised by trying to center Simply and then I am centering Eat, Sleep, Stitch. Once I finish all the wording, I will then determine where to go from there. There is a neat looking daisy on the pattern...but I am not sure that white petals will show up well on the white fabric...anyway, that is where things are at with my stitching.

I took yesterday off from work to spend the day at home with the family. At our local movie theater, they have a special summer program where they run "free" movies on Tuesday and Wednesday at 10am. There is usually a G-rated and a PG-rated movie. This week, one of the movies was "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" a movie only DH & Matthew (younger son) had seen, which I have been wanting to see but too cheap to rent the video or order it on our cable box. So, I took the day off and we went to watch it. With these free movies, you have to show up at least a half hour to stake our your seats. We like to sit in the row right behind the bars so we can put our feet up - which we were able to get being as we arrived at the theater exactally at 9:30am. The movie was as cute as Matthew promised it to be - and we had fun watching it as a family. The rest of the afternoon was spent on catching up on a few household things as well as just plan resting (the boys read and napped, believe it or not. DH and I just vegged out).

In the evening, DH took the boys down to the rink for the hockey clinic they are attending this week (and for the third night in a row, I have had the house to myself - what a blessing). Tomorrow starts tryouts for the upcoming 2010-2011 hockey season. I am sure that as much as I talk about hockey stuff, you all didn't realize that the last season was over back in April...but it was. All the hockey activities since then have been camps/clinics that the boys have been going to - to keep in shape and to continue their skill development in the "off" season and in preparation for the upcoming season. Tryout weekend always promises to be filled with tramas and dramas - most of the issues created by the parents :) Hopefully it will be a easy and fun tryout for the kids!

Today it is back to work for me this morning and back to camp for the boys...and then the last night of the hockey clinic (maybe I will go tonight and watch the boys on ice with my DH). Hope everyone is doing well! Take care and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

Eat, Sleep...Stitch

First - I want to apologize to those who thought the frogs came and "attacked" a stitching project...I didn't mean to cause any panic :) Second - I do want to thank you all for the kind comments about the Quaker Patriotic Heart pillow. It was fun to stitch - and felt good to use some of my Hardanger skills that I haven't used in several years. The last time was when I stitched my sister's ring pillow (unfortunately I cannot find a photo of it right now...I hope that I didn't loose the photos when our main computer crashed a couple of years ago). Anyway, on to the next project - for I am procrastinating the bringing out of the MW project (shhh! you might wake her up).

"What am I working on now?" you so kindly ask, well I am working on this:

Purchased last month from http://www.123stitch.com/ when I bought LHN's Monthly Sampler Series "July & August" (the monthly sampler series will probably be my 2011 yearlong project - just collecting the kits this year). I saw "Eat, Sleep, Stitch" and felt that I really, really needed it to counteract the "Eat, Sleep, HOCKEY" that goes on around here 24/7. So, after I finished up the ornament and the pillow on Sunday I got a start on "Eat, Sleep, Stitch"...

(picture taken with my phone camera while biking on the stationary bike this morning...wanted to make sure that I got a shot of my status to show you this morning - just a little multi-tasking occurring at 5am this morning)

I am stitching this on the remaining 28ct white evenweave linen which used for the Quaker Patriotic Hearts -  using my own color combinations...currently using Weeks Dye Works...and stitching 1-over-1 (you can see some of my "playing around" on the bottom...stitching the patriotic hearts in different colors).

We started a crazy week here in my house hold. Robert (older son) started "working/volunteering" at an all day camp this week - working 8am-4pm. He is assigned to this camp this week and then,next week, will go back to working at the afternoon camp Matthew (younger son) is attending. However, in addition to the camp this week we are back to driving to the rink for a hockey clinic - this one is only 4 days and leads up to tryouts, which start on Friday evening and continue through the weekend. Hard to believe that the boys will be trying out for the 2010-2011 hockey season already. Well, I guess that is what we get as we treat this sport as an all year round one.

As I catch my breath, I want to thank you for visiting! Hope you have a terrific Tuesday!

Remember...Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa