getting over the embarasment

I started this blog awhile ago so that I could connect with others who love fiber art.  Unfortunately I got into a funk and not much has been done here.  Part of that is because I have not really done any stitching over the last few months and also because I felt that all of my posts should have photos. That was a problem because I had no camera to take the photos.

Well, as I have continued to stumble through Blog Land I have come to see that not every post out there has photos. (Kudos to those who have photos on every post!!) Any whoooo I realize that I need to get  off my fanny and actually take the time to write about what I am doing with my crafts.

As I said there has not been a lot of stitching going on here. I had one major finish in the last few months that you can check out here. Since then I have not really been working on much in the way of fabric arts. I have been busy with getting things around here into something that resembles sanity. (does that ever truly happen?)

That's all for now, Blessed Be!

Tina

Second Day of Spring

I am so glad that Spring has arrived. We have been lucky enough to have beautiful weather here in CNY. We are curently snow free (KNOCK on WOOD).

DD#2 and DS

shoveling us out after the last February snowfall.

it is amazing to me that we have gone from so much snow just a few weeks ago to this...

The first blooms of SPRING

Jack posing in the sunshine. He wasn't quite sure what to think about the fact that he could run through the yard again.

I have felt so much better within the last week. I know that a lot of it is due to the sunshine and our mini-heatwave. It was above 50 F for 4 days this last week. I still kept the wood furnace stoked since the nights were down in the lower 30's F. The daylight hours were lovely. I was able to sit out on my enclosed porch and sip my morning coffee and not freeze my tush off.

Besides enjoying the weather we were busy working on refurbishing the upstairs bathroom. DD#2 is living at home and since we had the plumbing already run up there...it was there when we moved into the house 16 years ago...we had a plumber come in and make sure that it was okay to use. It passed the inspection and we have spent three weeks updatine the fixtures. With a new toilet, a basin sink and a space-age shower I wonder if the DD will ever decide to move out...LOL I will post some pics when we have it all set up and ready to go.

For now I hope that all of you in the Northern Hemisphere are enjoying Spring like weather. For those of you in the Southern Hemisphere I hope that your Autumn is a joyful time of harvest and plenty.

Peace,
Tina

Pin Pillow Exchange

I am taking part in teh pin pillow exchange that is being hosted by BeckySC over at Becky Bee's Stitching Hive. I am looking forward to taking part in my very first exchange. I am having a hard time trying to decide what I will stitch up for this exchange.  I am going to have to buckle down and just pick something from my collection of magazines and books that will make a sweet pin pillow. I hate making decisions like this without knowing the person.

 Since I have started Blogging I have been fortunate enough to win a give away from Shell over at Tales from the Raspberry Rabbit. You can see posts about Mr. Rabbit here. I have still not decided where to place Mr. Hippy Hoppy Rabbit. My SM(Sweet Man) has taken to calling him TR, short for Traveling Rabbit.

In quilting news I am cutting the bands for both my blue and red "Snowfriends" wall hangings. With all the snow that we have had fall her in CNY (Central New York) I am feeling like putting them up for a bit. However, I want to get them done so that I don't feel guilty for not finishing them. My UFO's and WIP's are piling up. I have two Advent count down calanders and two other christmas items that I purchased for 75% off after Christmas. These 4 items are tucked away in a clearly labled box to be pulled out around October for finishing.

Speaking of the clearly labled box...I am striving to become more organized. My DM is a neat freak and I have a tendancy to leave things around the house. I do not want to drive him away so I am trying to curb my messy ways. I have been doing Flylady for about 4 years now and I am slowly taming my clutter and am to the point where I am mostly living with the things taht I love and use. She has helped me so much. If you do not know her go over to her website and check her out.

No new pics here, I haven't done much other than start to cut strips for the, above mentioned, wallhangings. The snow and cold make my joints ache and at times it is really hard for me to get moving. I am looking forward to Spring!!!! I will probably still be hurting but at least I will be able to sit out on the frount porch and soak in some sunshine as I drink my tea and do some stitching. I do miss the sunshine!

Well, enough of my bellyaching...I hope that you are all warm and cosy and getting to spend a bit of time on your stitching

Tina

Well, its about time...

A few weeks ago I won a give away from Shell at Tales from the Raspberry Rabbit.  I have been having such a hard time with electronics that I have not gotten around to posting the pics that I took.  Well, I am going to remedy that right now! So with no further delay, here is Mr Rabbit.

I am showing him in three different locations because I am having a hard time choosing his permanent home. I would love to hear what others think. : )

On a different track, I an SOOOOO sick of snow. Here in Syracuse, NY we have had snow on the ground for three months now. We have had at least trace amounts of snow every day since Christmas. For the most part is is just enough to be annoying. If I have to leave the house I ahve to sweep the snow off the car before I leave. After I get done (shopping at Hobby Lobby or Jo-Anns) I have to sweep the snow off again. ARGH!!!!!

So I figured that I would share a few snow pics with you all (well, maybe some day I will have a follower). 

This is what I have been dealing with. This bit of snow fell between 8:00 and 9:00 am.

 

I can tell that it fell between those times because DD#2 left for work at 7:35am and this is her empty parking space.

These three views are the view of my yard. There are only two houses back here in the woods, you can barely see my neighbor's house in the last photo.

Oh Well, I really should not complain. (I'll be knocking on wood as I say, Type?, this next bit) We have not lost power and for the first time in many a year we did not run out of wood for the wood burning furnace.  I have plenty of food and know that if anything did happen we would be warm and cosy. After all one of the big perks about having a wood burning furnace is that if all else fails I can cook on top of it (it would need to be something I normally make in the crock-pot, but it is possible).

Well, I have bent your ear for long enough. I hope you all have a good day, and as you stitch may your threads stay knot free.

Tina

Long Extended Weekend

I had all of the kiddlets here at one point or another this weekend. It was nice for me since I was able to find some one-on-one time with all four of them. This does not happen very often!

With the 21yo DD up at Fort Drum (about 80 miles from home) I see her less and less often as she is starting to spread her wings and soar. She is enjoying her job and has settled into a routine (something that she sorely needed).

The 19yo DD is trying to spend some time with her bf. She will have very little time over the next few weeks. She started her internship for Dental Hygenest.  I expected her home around 5:oopm, but she texted me to letme know that the dentist had asked her to stay for an emergency visit. I was impressed that he put this much trust in her after only one day. When she finally did get home she was glowing and exhausted. LOL I would be dead if I had been on my feet for 12 plus hours.

The 16yo DS actually had this evening free. And to top it off, he actually had a conversation with me! I almost passed out! Teen-aged boys always have been a mystery to me.

The 14yo DD texted me after school. (She lives with her father) She wanted to tell me about her day...I wonder if there is something in the water around here???? We texted back and forth for over an hour (Again...be still my heart!!!!) We actually talked about "things" and did not get on one anothers nerves...We are definately to much alike at times. I think that the texting is a good way for us to communicate...Makes us think about what we are saying...No heated exchange of unintended words.

The SM (Sweet Man) left early this AM to return to his education. It makes the house really quiet when he leaves. He will be done with his Bachlors in Mechanical/Production  Engineering in May and we are both ready for graduation. ?He had a short day today, but tomorrow he will be in classes from 9-9, what a schedule. Even with breaks it is a long day.

Me...I spent most of the day sipping Tea and stitching as my ctitters lounged about the house. I have finished more of the snowmen blocks for the wall hanging but am being lazy about posting the pics. I promise I will have them up tomorrow.  For now it is off to slumberland.

long day

I spent the better part of my morning sitting and waiting at the Syracuse VA hospital. I knew that it was going to be a LONG wait so I went prepared. I have been working on redwork blocks for the "Snowfriends" Quilt, designed by Lynda Howell,  from the Nov/Dec issue of Quiltmaker magazine. I get to combine two of my favorite pastimes together into one (three) lovely wall hangings.

I absolutely LOVE my snowmen! I finished up one of the larger blocks and my doc was actually so nice as to tell me how much she liked my work. It is amazing to me that so many people are stitchers (or married to them). I have had so many lovely conversations with people about my work and what they are working on, are going to start, and what they have just finished. I love it.

You are going to have to wait for a pic of my finish (I have an actual WIP...LOL). I got home after noon and snuggled into my recliner and started to stitch another (the same???) block but in blue this time. I want to make three of the quilted wall hangings...one red, one blue, and one in color. I have my work cut out for me.

I should be in bed right now, but my arms both hurt. I got 2 shots...H1N1 and pnemonia. I'm greatful that I am able to get these, but at the same time I wish they wre not necessary! Ah, Well, my health is the most important thing. I need my strength to stitch.

Sweet dreams,

Tina

Feeling Blue

Well, since I last posted I have completed several small cross-stitch items. I will post some pictures once I get to the store for batteries.

It is amazing that I keep finding myself up at midnight watching the shows that I DVR'd. The Martha Stewart Christmas show was on Fine Living the other night. I love to watch her at work...If only I was as organized as she is. Sigh....some day. For now I will have to enjoy my creative clutter. I do need to get everything all picked up so that the tree can be hauled down from the attic.

I have been putting it off. I am having a hard time getting into the spirit of the season. I think that it has a lot to do with the cold, wet, blustery weather. It has been gloomy. Last Tuesday it did snow about 4 inches. It looked like a glistening jewel when I got up. By mid afternoon it had started to rain and by eaving all the snow was gone. We ended up with icy roads and a few downed tree limbs. Tis the season.

I am going to have to give myself a kick in the kiester. Time to get over the gloomys. This is a time to enjoy and celebrate. I need to remind myself of all the good things that I have.

So here goes: My Happy List

I have a warm and comfy home.
I have a wonderful Boyfriend who cares about me.
My Children are healthy and (usually?) happy.
My car runs and has a new muffler (ah the peaceful hum of the engine is sweet).
My parents are coming from MN to spend part of the X-mas holiday with us.

Hmmmmmm...This should not be so hard! I will need to start posting some happy thoughts. I am going to shoot for one happy post each day for one week. It is a beginning that I hope will lead me to a happier place before the real holiday hits me.

I sound so whiney. Ah well...I am determined to turn over a new leaf and be more positive.

Merry Meet

Tina

First time ever

So I have been reading blogs non-stop for the last few months. I keep wondering what I could have to say that has not already been said. It seems that I have talents in common with many other bloggers and since this is the case I would like this blog to be a way to dialog with them about ideas and such. After 17 years of marriage I got divorced. Now for the first time I have been able to "play" with my artistic and creative side. It has been a lot of fun.