My Secret Stitcher Sender is the Bomb!

My Secret Stitcher sent me this adorable package!!! She already appears to have a grasp on my style and taste.

I love how it is themed with my favorite color red. The cute plaid gift box contains Candy Apple wool fabric, candy cane fabric, WDW Candy Apple Thread, red ribbon, red, green and gold beads, JABC Peppermint Swirl magnet and pin, and a gorgeous alabaster angel Christmas ornament. 

Merry Christmas and thank you to my secret stitcher for choosing items that I would have picked out for myself.
Thank you, also, Amy Whitaker for choosing the perfect secret stitcher for me!

Victorian Motto Shoppe Primitive Colors Thread Giveaway-Enter Now!!!

I received my order today (and super quick) of some beautiful threads from Nancy.  Trust me they are worth the purchase even if you don't win!   Victorian Motte Shoppe Thread Giveaway-Enter Now

"Stir Crazy" House Project #2 Cornice Board

This was my very 1st attempt at recovering a cornice board.  The "before" fabric in the top picture was from a previous owner of my house, was at least 20 years old and looked "grandma-ish".  This may be also be my last attempt at a cornice board as it took 2 long, full days of muttering under my breath,  a throbbing backache and many do-overs.   (All I could think about was the time I was around 10 years old and the Christmas tree kept falling over.  My dad kept trying to prop it up to no avail so, he heaved it out the front door!  The same thought crossed my mind about this dang board.)  The board is heavy and appears to have been recovered 4 other times. 

Following instructions off Pinterest, I dove in and tackled it.  I did the corners a different way than the instructions called for
and it worked well. 

I absolutely love the new fabric.  It is HGTV Urban Blossoms Harvest.  It totally transformed the look of the board.  I will hang it over the window tomorrow and post another B&A pic.    

"Stir Crazy" House Project #1 Antique Bookcase

When I was working full time, I wanted to quit work and stay home to craft, design, and create whatever I fancied.  Now that I am home much more, I am going stir crazy because I am not constantly on the move as I was at work.  So, I decided to start working on house projects that have been swirling in my mind for months and years to keep me busy.  It was and is time to open up my creative juice box.

Here is my first major project.  I am  kicking myself for not taking a before picture of this 1800's library bookcase given to me by a friend about 7 years ago.  It sat in my garage deteriorating from the weather and dryer vent.  It took a week of cleaning, sanding, staining, varnishing and repeat to uncover the beauty of the wood.  Once I have it filled with books and other sundries, I will post another picture.  

Christmas Stocking

It's sooooooooooo cute!

Rag Quilt

Eighty blocks in Christmas cotton flannel sewn together.  Next step, rag quilt scissors to cut seam allowances, then trip to washing machine.  May take a few weeks before I can get to these steps.

Coming Today!

SEWING-I have been so busy learning to sew, that I realized I have not posted in a few weeks.  I will be posting later today my finished Christmas stocking completed in sewing class yesterday.  I have also sewn together all blocks for my rag quilt.  All that is left is the snipping and washing to achieve the rag look.

CROSS STITCH-I am currently working on the Stitched With Love Christmas Exchange.  Shhhh, can't say anything yet.

FITNESS-I am also going to start posting my running times, so that I can keep a record of what I am accomplishing.  Today 5.62 miles in exactly 59 minutes.  Pretty good with 20 mph wind gusts and wind chill in the forties.  Truth be told, it was a difficult run today.  Must be the change in the weather.

Post of pics later today..............................

Animal Antics Given-Stitched With Love Exchange

I really enjoyed stitching this for Christine. It was a fun project to do and shopping for giraffe themed objects was a blast.  I especially like the giraffe ornament.  I am hoping she will be able to use it on her Christmas tree.

Animal Antics Stitched With Love Exchange Received

I love, love, love the Animal Antics theme recently completed by the Stitched With Love Exchange Group.  I received this awesome pillow from Shirlee.  She definitely hit on my tastes.  Red is my fave color and the dog is adorable.  I really like how she attached the buttons on the end of the pillow. I have an awesome Lab names Max, so this stash reminds me of him.

Red & Green Pillows-1st Sewing Project

I have to admit, I am quite proud of my very first sewing machine project.  The ball fringe was a bit of a hassle at first, especially on the corners, but all in all, I think they turned out well.  Why I picked something with fringe for the first project is beyond me.  Chalk it up to a rookie mistake.

I love the pattern design.  Red and green are two of my fave colors.  These pillows seem to brighten the room I have them in.

My next project is a Christmas stocking in what else-red and green.  Ha Ha,  The material has been cut and tonight at class, I will begin to stitch it.  Can't wait to post pic of that.

Stitching! Sewing! but forgot Blogging till Now!

The time has flown these last few weeks.  Sewing lessons have been going great.  Never knew how much I would love it and how I can really finish my cross stitch designs more professionally looking.  I love my Husqvarna Viking 118 Sewing Machine.

Posted New Running Time

So Laura and I ran our best 5.62 miles yest. finishing in 58.25.  I am not a fast runner so accomplishing this made me a "happy camper".  Tomorrow is the hard route but since the weather is a little cooler, I am hoping to have a good run.  Since being on my new medicine, my energy is coming back.

As for stitching, I am feverishly finishing up a "Stitched With Love" exchange, another one waiting in the wings, and a Halloween based sampler.  Whew!  I love fall designs and lately I have seen so many I want to stitch.

I have a busy week next week:

I plan on taking my 2nd sewing lesson this coming Monday, so I am very excited bout that.
I am the guest speaker for a ladies business breakfast.  I will be speaking on skin care and fitness.
I have a doctor's appt.
Our staff at work is throwing a "going away" party for one of the staff.

So stitching at night!
 

It's Official, I'm hooked on Sewing

Yesterday was the first day of sewing lessons. OMG, what have I been missing all these years?  There were suppose to be 2 students in the class, but the other was a no show, so I had the teacher all to myself.  She made it fun, interesting and easy.  I have decided to purchase a sewing machine and to sign up for more lessons with Janet, the teacher. (www.janetkile.com)  She has a studio where she teaches small classes or one-on-one lessons.  I have no interest in sewing clothes, but oh, the crafting/finishing possibilities for my cross stitch abound.

Sewing Lessons and More Fall Fabric!!!

I am so excited about taking my first sewing machine lesson tmrw.  My grandmother sewed, my mother use to sew, but I never learned how.  In the 12th grade, I took a Home Economics Class (dating myself) and paid a friend to sew my stuff for me.  Back then I had no patience or interest in it.

Over my years of cross stitching, I have framed my designs and YES paid someone else to finish them for me, including Christmas ornies.  How pitiful.  I am always wanting to finish my projects myself so I bit the bullet and went to our local Joann's Craft & Fabric store and signed up for sewing machine lessons.  Our supply list was small, and included purchasing a yard of fabric.  I love this pattern and don't care if all I do is sew a seam all the way around it.  I am sure I can use it somewhere down the road.

Home Is Where You Hang Your Needlework!

Had an exhausting 5 mile run today.  It was unbearably hot, but I did it.  Now for something fun and pretty.  I finished this piece.  I love, love it.  Think I am going to have it framed so it will be appropriate for the title.

I have a new phone but can't understand why it won't take better pics.  I will have to stop by Verizon and find out, but you get the idea.  On the right side of the sampler, I had to add my own designs around the letter "R".  The designer personalized it with her 3 initials in the original design.  I like the single letter instead.

What A Run!

Whoo Hoo!  New shoes must have helped Thursday.  I run with another woman named Laura and we ran the harder of the two routes we run.  It has more hills and we always post a longer time run with this particular route.  But not that day; we had our best run ever of all our runs to date-59:15.  We finally accomplished our 5.62 miles in under an hour.  We have been doing anywhere from 60:45-63:45 depending on how we felt.  I was so excited.

I am getting ready to run in a few minutes and am dreading it a bit because I got up too late for a morning run, which is unusual for me, because I am usually an early riser.  I will be running during the hottest part of the day but downloaded some aerobic music from www.powermusic.com  and www.yesfitnessmusic.com to my IPOD to hopefully motivate me.  I plan on doing 5 miles, depending on how I feel.  Then, I need to get to stitching for my Stitched With Love Exchange new project!

Glycerin-Brooks Running Shoe!

BROOKS GLYCERIN 9

YAY!!!  Finally, a new pair of running shoes. I went to a local store today called Strictly Running (of course!) and was fitted for a pair of shoes.  I have never had a fitting and have a suspicious feeling that I have been running in the wrong types for years.  My feet roll to the outside (supinate) so I need a "neutral" shoe and with extra cushioning.  I can't wait to try them out on Thursday. I have been putting off buying a new pair for 3 weeks.  When you can feel the road through your shoes, your knees and hips hurt, it's time for a new pair.  I am up to 17 miles a week, so I think I deserve and need them.  I will only wear them for running, so they should hold up for a while.

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Fabulous Fall Fabric!

I have autumn fever soooo bad.  I am ready for cooler weather.  It has been really hot and muggy here.
I am almost finished with my current stitching piece and am itching to start an autumn piece.  (kinda a rhyme)

I went into Joann's Fabric/Craft store today and purchased several things among these 2 gorgeous pieces of fabric, especially the blackbird on the pumpkin.   MMMMMM, the possibilites of incorporating this fabric into my stitching finishing pieces abound!

WOW THAT LONG!

I cannot believe I have not posted since Nov. 2011.  What a crying shame.  Oh well, time to start over. 
I did not stitch much of anything during my "no post" time until starting back about 6 weeks ago.  I forgot how much I enjoy it and how much stress it relieves. I finished my "Family Tree" by Notforgotten Farms design finally and framed it myself; the first time I framed something on my own.  It actually turned out pretty decent.  Lighting isn't that great.  The frame is made of wood with holes in it.

I am now currently working on "Home Is Where You Hang Your Needlework" by Homespun Elegance.  I love the design and can't wait to see the end product.  The stitching has been a little frustrating in that I have already found 3 manufacturer mistakes on the printed graph.  I wish designers would catch this stuff before it goes to print!  HOWEVER, I love, love this design.

I pray I will be much better at blogging!

Fall Is In the Air!

As I drove home Friday from working out of town all week, I couldn't help but notice the leaves changing in vibrant reds, golds, yellows, etc. I love this time of year so imagine the thrill I received when upon returning home, my Round 27 exchange package had arrived in the mail from Elaine M. She could not have picked out a better design or color choice to do for me. Thank you Elaine for keeping my fall fever going!