Happy New Year!

Happy New Year folks! It's been over a week since I last posted. It's been busy! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!

I've been thinking about my goals and what I'd like to get accomplished in 2007 both as a person and as a stitcher. I've got lots of projects lined up! I've got some finishes to share soon, but none that I can show right now. I've decided I'm not going to buy stash (besides floss, fabric, etc) until I get some things done and moved out of here! LOL! Let's see how long that resolution lasts!
I got a gift certificate from my DH for Christmas and yesterday I went and spent the whole thing. I got Victoria Sampler's Christmas Village Sampler and Victoria Sampler's Jingle Bell Tree Farm - the fabric for both and the silk packs and embellishments for both, that was well over $150 for these...YIKES! But they will be beautiful when they are stitched. I don't have them on my list anytime soon.

Upcoming for me is to get down to business on weight loss, exercise and generally becoming more healthy as a whole. I'm tired of feeling tired, so am hopeful that I can get this primary 2007 resolution in hand.

Well that's all for me on this last day of 2006, I won't be unhappy to see the last of this year! Please enjoy the tune from Dan Fogelberg...this is my all time favorite song by him. Plus it's about the New Year too! I'm going to update my music options on my blog whenever I post. Personally I like listening to music as I go around blogs and when I found this to add to my site, I couldn't resist! Happy New Year! ;)

Merry Christmas All!

I'd like to wish each of you a special holiday season from me! 2006 has been a tough year in some aspects (aren't they all?!) but one highlight is that I started blogging (which I am totally enjoying!) and I met a lot of great people and have made some spectacular friends! I value all of your comments and just by visiting my blog and leaving me a comment uplifts my spirit and makes me smile! Thanks to everyone that comes and visits me from time to time! Taking time out of your busy schedule to spend time reading my thoughts and looking over my projects means a lot!
This is the Christmas Picture that we had in our cards this year and it shows the little miracles that I live with...they are my dear hearts! They certainly all look quite similar - don't they?! I guess our gene pools are not very broad :)
I won't be blogging again probably until close to the first of the year. I work this weekend, (ugh!) then I and my family will be travelling to our parent's homes. My DH will be back by the middle of the week because he doesn't want to take days off work...(I know he's a man) and I'm not returning until right before the 31st. Please know that I've been stitching, stitching away on secret exchanges...but I've got a couple coming up by the end of January so I'll be able to share them then. But until then I wish the best of all holiday seasons! May your travels be safe. May your health be intact. May the spirit of the season touch your hearts and may you all know the love and fellowship of family and friends!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
:D

Winter Blast Exchange Received from Cathy!!

What would you think if you received this in the mail?!
Such lovely, lovely stitching......

Then all of these goodies????? YIKES, how do you say thanks when you've been so abundantly blessed with such a huge stash of stuff?! THANK YOU, CATHY!!!!! You can meet and see all of Cathy's other lovely projects at her BLOG
She's a wonderful lady and does the most gorgeous work....how my heart skipped a beat when I saw the package was from her!! Thanks again Cathy! I will enjoy every single thing you've sent and your stitching is beyond compare!
Until Next Time..... :o)

A small finish....

This is for my brother and new SIL who were married this year. I'm getting a lot of wear out of Lizzie Kate's First Christmas pattern. This one I finished round and it is on 28 ct. white linen. I didn't use any of the same colors of floss. The light green and red is DMC and the holly leaves are done in Ivy WDW. I like the looks of this one. It's a little big for an ornament, but it's cute.

I've done a lot of work today on a "stitching project" but not actually..... stitching. Rather I'm devising my finish that I mentioned in the previous post. I've got it all together and am now just waiting on my actually finishing the stitching part....I think it's going to be fabulous! If so I'll share it with all of you....I've not seen a finish like this on anyone's blog and I think it's *may* be an original! :o)
Until next time.....

A Christmas gift has made it across the pond....

Here is a little ornament that I stitched for my dear friend Harmien. It is from the JCS Ornament Issue 2006 from Little House Needleworks. I didn't use any of the suggested colors or fabrics! Instead I chose my own. My substitutions were red for the pot and there were little X's in the corners that I used the same red. Then I used a pale lime green for the leaves and around the boarder, for the pears I used a pale yellow/gold. I think it turned out beautifully. I stitched it over 1 on 32 ct. linen that was called squash. I trimed the edges of the small ornie with a grosgrain ribbon attached down the middle so it sort of rolled to stand up. Harmien received it last weekend, and I think she liked it!

Well, I've been stitching away the last couple of days, I'm having a much needed "Mommy's" break...I'm still taking care of everything, but I'm letting my "housework" slide a little. I'm burning myself out, I've been rushing around running everywhere. So I'm slowing down for the next couple of days to rest a little. What I'm stitching is for an exchange, so I can't share any news or details other than, the design is Out of Print and rather old and the picture on the pattern doesn't do the real thing justice! I thought the pattern was so-so, but as I stitch it, I think I'm going to stitch it for myself!!! Plus I think I came up with an ingenious finish...if it all works out...I've been thinking about it in my head for days now and finally I put my plan into action today. We'll see if it all turns out well.
I guess that's it for me today. Have a great day and if I don't post for a couple of days....I'll be around before the end of the week :)

Birthdays and other things...

My oldest child seen above on the far left turned 9 years old yesterday. Sort of depressing when I think back about her birth and all the joy we felt having a newborn baby. She came 6 weeks early and was born at 34 weeks. She was fine and there were no problems, but I remember asking my Mom, "Do you think I wanted her so much that she just came early?" My Mom laughed, but I was being totally serious. There was not a child on earth that was more wanted, loved or joyfully anticipated than our Katie Grace. Now she's 9 years old and I'm doing my darnedest to shield her from the unpleasantries this world throws at us everyday. I want her to continue to have innocence and sunshine. So we watch little tv and read instead. She's a voracious reader just like her mother. We share many things in common, that being one. So "Happy Birthday Katie!" Mommy loves you so much!

My Exchange for the USEBB Winter Blast

I *pinched* these pictures from Juanita - my Winter Blast partner...her pictures were much clearer than mine.....
Here's what I stitched for the Winter Blast on the USEBB exchange board. It is from Prairie Schooler's Winter Wind.

This was my very first flat fold...I put twisted green/red cording/with gold beads all around the front and back of the flat fold then I glued tiny snowflakes all down the sides.
On the back I used the coolest fabric I could find...that matched the colors from the block. Then I stitches a small block with our initials and the year and name of the exchange. I think it turned out pretty good! For a first timer....on the flat fold technique. I learned a lot from this so the next will be better. I hope Juanita enjoyed the package as much as I enjoyed putting it together! Here's the goodies I sent along:
I sure am enjoying myself in these exchanges. I hope my partners aren't disappointed with my stitching and finishing techniques. I'm sure they wouldn't say they *hated* them (even if they secretly did! LOL!).

Well that's it on my front for today. Tomorrow and Sunday I have to work. So I'll be visiting everyone's blogs on my break! Have a great weekend!

Looky what I got...!!!!!

Look at this beautiful, beautiful stocking ornament I received from Rachel! She was my partner for the USEBB Exchange board. Isn't it just gorgeous?! She did a wonderful job. She stitched it over one and it is just great! Here's all the goodies that came in the package!!! Talk about spoiled!

Then much to my delight (and surprise!) my friend Harmien from the Netherlands sent me this lovely ornie from Angel Stitchin': Isn't it cute as a button! Look at all that rusched ribbon. Harmien doesn't have a blog, but I'm hoping to convert her to blogdom soon!
What a surprise filled day I had today! Two beautiful handstitched gifts from two lovely ladies! I'm truly spoiled and just can't say enough about the fine workmanship shown in these two ornaments! Thanks again ladies!!
Until next time!
:o)

Visions of Sugarplums and Carmel Corn....

Some people may have visions of sugarplums, but I've been having visions of carmel corn. My dear Grandmother Epperson used to make the BEST caramel corn ever and we always had it on Christmas Day! So this year I decided that I would make caramel corn for our neighbors as a "Neighborly" Christmas present from the Pfeiffer's. I made MOUNDS of it as seen here:

Then I packaged it as seen here:

Then I had my kids put their Santa hats on and take them and our yearly Christmas Cards to all of our neighbors with instructions of saying "Merry Christmas" when the neighbors opened their doors. I think it all went well...I was peeking out the window as they were passing out our gifts and most people looked well pleased to be getting a large bag of homemade carmel corn :D

My family made this Advent Wreath last evening at our church's Family Focus dinner. We had a good time and the live tree boughs make our dinning room smell wonderful! I haven't put one single X in a cross stitched item this weekend. I was so determined that I wanted to get lots of stitching done, but I got this bee in my bonnet about making the neighbor treats early this year, so that I wouldn't have to worry about it and so my entire Sunday was spent doing that. Oh, well, I love spreading good cheer and giving to others so, it was time well spent!

Thanks for the positive comments on my Jedi Robes! You are all a special bunch of people! :o)

EDITED FOR RECIPE: Sorry I should of thought of posting this...but thanks to Glenna's suggestion here's the ingredients:

2 sticks of butter, 2 cups of packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup of corn syrup, 1 tsp. of salt. Melt together and bring to boil on Medium Heat. Boil for 5 mins. Remove from heat and add 1 tsp. of Baking Soda and I added some Vanilla a squirt or two of it. Mix. The mixture will turn a lighter color tan and get very "fluffy". Pour over 8 quarts of popped popcorn in a large roasting pan. mix well. Put the roasting pan full of carmel corn (minus the lid) into a a 200 degree oven for 1 hour stirring every 15 minutes. When 1 hour is up, lay out carmel corn on wax paper to cool. Break up large chunks of corn. Enjoy!

MMMmmmm good :o)

The Jedi(s) and other stuff....

Well as asked for by some of you....here's the pictures of many Jedis during last nights party!

Picture #1: Ian doing a "move" while posing for the camera. #2 Picture: Katie showing the Jedi Robe sleeves and their length....Jedi's keep their hands on the inside of their robes when not carrying their light sabers apparently. Picture #3: Jedi Jacob and his best "Anikin Skywalker" tortured look.


And then here's a "fight scene" from both of the birthday boys.

The robes were a real hit for Jacob...he even slept in his last night over his P.J.'s. Ian on the other hand, not as enthusiastic, but got more so as he saw how much Jacob liked his. Ian did not sleep in his, but it was draped over the end of the bed. So all in all I think the robes were a hit. Even Katie as shown above tried them on. I asked her if she wanted one too, and she said, "your kidding right?!" I guess that means "no".

Well we've got a 1/3 of an acre of birthday cake left to eat.....and my back is killing me this morning because I was the party police last night and slept on the floor with the kids. You never know how old you really are until you sleep on the floor for a night.....I've realized, I'm older than I think.....

Meanwhile, Mr. Winter has visited the Hoosier State...Wowzers it's cold....my Dad who lives outside of St. Louis, MO...said he had 4 inches of ice on his vehicle yesterday and from the reports we're seeing this morning on the news...the pictures are dramatic. Some 400,000 people (not entirely sure on the numbers...but they were big) in the St. Louis area are without electricity. With the temps dipping dramatically at night and even during the day, I pray that people will soon get their electricity on. Can you imagine how cold that is without heat or electricity? I can't....

I don't have a single thing to show you as far as cross stitching goes - I'm hoping once I unload, I mean, drop off the overnight guests, I can get a little stitching time in today. But tonight we're booked at our church's family focus group for supper and advent wreath making...so I've got food to make this afternoon for that. So that probably means little time to stitch. But tomorrow's another day! Until next time....

Today I'm thankful for electricity, funny how we don't think about how much we rely on something until its gone.

Stitching this weekend on: surprise gift